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Duke  University  Libraries 


D03209694X 


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lAGE  OF  THE  PllESIDENT. 


Confederate  States  of  A  metric  a,  ^ 

Executive  office,       \ 
Richmond,  Ya.,  Feb.  23',  1863.  ) 

To  the  House  of  Representatives  C.  S.  : 

I  herewith  transmit  a  communication  from  the  Postmaster  Gene- 
ral, with  accompanying  papers,  in  reply  to  the  resolution  of  your 
body,  of  October  13th,  !862,  asking  information  relative  to  the  Tele- 
graphic Companies  in  the  Confederate  States  ;  the  expenditures  of  the 
Government  in  that  connection,  tind  "such  other  information  as  may 
be  deemed  useful  in  determining  the  policy  and  pract  cability  of  merg- 
ing the  telegraph  in  the  postal  system  of  the  Confederate  States,"" 

The  documents  presented  contain  all  of  the  information  that  it  is 
practicable  at  present  to  furnish.  As  to  the  propriety  of  merging  the 
telegrapli  in  the  postal  system,  it  may  well  be  doubted  whether  the 
development  of  the  art  of  telegraphing  would  be  better  promoted  by 
withdrawing  the  management  of  the  lines  from  private  companies, 
and  placing  it  in  the  hands  of  the  Government,  and  it  is  also  doubted 
whether  the  present  is  an  opportune  time  so  largely  to  increase  the 
administrative  labors  of  the  Executive  Departments. 

The  extension  of  executive  patronage  involved  the  political  effect 
of  giving  the  government  control  of  the  transmission  of  the  first  in- 
telligence, as  well  as  the  question  of  constitutional  power,  were,  it  is 
to  be  supposed,  considered  by  the  House  before  trans  nitting  the  reso- 
lution, and  are  therefore  not  regarded  as  proper  subjects  for  remark 
on  this  occasion. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 


t 


REPORT  OF  THE  POSTMASTER  GENERAL,  IN   ANSWER 
TO  THE  RESOLUTION  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTA- 
^TIVES,  OF  OCTOBER  13,   1862. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1862,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted 
by  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Confederate  States. 

BESOLUTION    OF  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  ADOPTED    OCTOBER   13,    1862. 

^* Resolved,  That  the  President  be  reqested  to  communicate  to  this 
House,  at  the  commencement  of  the  next  session  of  Congress  if  not, 
in  his  opinion,  incompatible  with  the  public  interest,  all  the  informa- 
tion that  he  may  be  able  to  obtain  relative  to  the  Telegraphic  Compa- 
nies in  the  Confederate  States,  the  names  of  said  companies,  the  date 
of  their  formation,  and  Avhether  incorporated  or  otherwise;  the  names 
of  the  presidents  and  directors  of  said  companies  and  when  and  by 
whom  elected ;  tlie  capital  stock  of  each  of  said  companies,  and  the 
amounts  held  respectively  by  citizens  of  the  Confederate  States  and 
by  alien  enemies  thereof;  the  amount  of  earnings  of  said  companies 
since  April  15,  1861,  and  how  and  v.hen  said  earnings  have  been  dis- 
posed of;  the  amount  expended  by  the  Government  in  the  construc- 
tion and  repair  of  Telegraphic  lines,  and  salaries  of  agents  and  ope- 
ratives, and  the  revenue  derived  therefrom;  the  amounts  paid  by  the 
different  departments  of  the  Government  since  April  15,  1861  tolls 
on  telegraphic  dispatches,  and  such  other  information  as  may  be 
deemed  useful  in  determining  the  policy  and  practicability  of  merging 
the  Telegraph  into  the  postal  system  of  the  Confederate  States." 

A  copy  of  this  resolution  was  received  at  this  Department  on  the 
20th  of  November,  1862,  and  on  the  22d  of  that  month  the  following 
letter  was  prepared  and  copies  thereof  addressed  to  the  proper  officers 
of  the  Telegraph  Companies  hereinafter  named. 

letter  of  postmaster  general,  november  22d,  1862. 

**  Post  Office  Department,      > 

*"  Richmond,  November  22d,  1862.  ) 
Siu :  That  this  Department  may  be  able  to  comply  with  the  provi- 
sions of  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Confede- 
rate States,  adopted  at  their  last  session,  I  have  to  request,  respect- 
fully, that  you  will  furnish  me  at  your  earliest  convenience  with  your 
response  to  said  resolution,  an  extract  froin  which  is  as  follows: 

'^Resolved,  That  the  President  be  requested  to  communicate  to  this 
House  at  the  commencement  of  the  next  session  of  Congress,  if  not, 
in  his  opinion,  incompatible  with  the  public  interest,  all  the  informa- 
tion that  he  may  be  able  to  obtain  relative  to  the  telegraphic  compa- 


nies  in  tlie  Confederate  States  ;  the  names  of  said  companies,  tlie  date 
of  their  formation,  and  whether  incorporated  or  otherwise;  the  names 
of  the  presidents  and  directors  of  said  companies,  and  when  and  by 
whom  elected;  the  capital  stock  of  each  of  said  companies,  and  the 
amounts  held  respectively  by  citizens  of  the  Confederate  States  and 
by  alien  enemies  thereof;  the  amount  of  earnings  of  said  companies 
since  April  loth,  1861,  and  how  and  when  said  earnings  have  been 
dispo;^ed  of. 

"  The  above  has  boen  communicated  under  this  date  to  the  prg^si- 
dcnts  of  the  several  telegraph  companies  in  the  Confederacy,  and  it 
is  desirable  that  their  answers  should  be  received  at  the  earliest  mo- 
ment practicable,  in  order  that  I  mny  make  my  report  to  the  President 
on  or.  before  the  reassembling  of  Congress,  on  the  1 3th  January  next. 
"  A^ery  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed,)  -JOHN  II.  RE.VGAN, 

*'  Fostmastcr  General^ 

TALtGRAPII  COMPANIES  TO   WHOM  THL  FOREGOING   LETTER   WAS  ADDKtSSED. 

Dr.  W.  S.  Morris,  President  Southern  Telegraph  Companies,  Rich- 
mond, A^irginia. 

John  Van  Horn,  Esq.,  President  South- Western  Telegraph  Com- 
pany, Jackson,  Mississippi. 

A.  M.  Gentry,  Esq.,  President,  or  C.  C.  Clutc,  Es(|.,  Secretary 
Texas  Telegriipli  Company,  Houston,  Texas. 

C.  P.  Bertrand,  Es(j.,  President  Arkansas  State  Telegraph  Com- 
pany,  Little  Rock,  Arkansas. 

Messrs.  Snow  &  Ketchum,  Managers  l*ine  Bluff  Telegraph  Com- 
pany. Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas. 

William  S.  Rockwell,  Escj.,  President  and  acting  Superintendent 
Cuba  Telegraph  Company,  Savannah,  Georgia. 

The  President  of  North  Carolina  State  Telegraph  Line,  care  of 
Governor  Z.  B.  Vance,  Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

Mr.  Witherspoon,  Manager  Kingsville  and  Camden  Telegraph  ]iine, 
Camden,  South  Carolina. 

n.  T.  Plant,  Es(|  ,  President  Southern  Express  Company's  Line, 
Augusta,  Georgia. 

Mr,  Howe,  Alanager  Columbus  and  Apalachicola  Telegraph  Com- 
pany, Columbus,  Georgia. 

L.  F.  Zantzinger,  Es(|.,  President  or  Manager  Mobile  and  Point 
Clear  Telegraph  Line,  Mobile,  Alabama. 

The  President  or  Manager  of  Yicksburg  and  Texas  Telegraph  Jiine, 
Vicksburo;,  Mississippi, 

Gen.  William  Mahone.  President  Norfolk  and  Peter&burg  Telegraph 
Company,  Petersburg,  Virginia. 

From  the  following  Companies,  to  whom  copies  of  the  foregoing 
letter  were  addressed,  this  Department  has  received  no  response  and 
is  not  possessed  otherwise  of  any  information  that  will  enable  me  to 
communicate  the  information  contemplated  by  the  resolution  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  viz : 


COMPANIES    FROM    WHOM    NO    RESPONSE    HAS    BEEN    RECEIVED. 

Texas  Telegraph  Company. 

Arkansas  State  Telegraph  Company. 

Pine  Bluff  Telegraph  Company. 

!North  Carolina  State  Telegraph  Company. 

Columbus  and  Apalacliicola  Telegraph  Company. 

Vicksburg  and  Texas  Telegraph  Line. 

The  following  report  comprises  all  the  information  received  at  this 
Department  fi'om  such  of  the  telegraph  companies  as  have  responded 
to  my  letter  of  November,  1882  : 

4         WASniNGTOX    AND    ^lEMPHTS    TELEG:iAPH    COMPANV. 

Tbis  line  extends  from  Washington,  D.  C,  to  Lynchburg,  Virginia. 
It  was  chartered  by  the  county  court  of  Campbell  county,  Virginia, 
in  1857  Of  1858,  in  confornity  to  the  statutes  of  Virginia.  Capital 
stock  §25,ni)l). 

William  S.  Morris,  President. 

Directors — Charles  Scott,  R.  W.  Crenshaw,  J.  S.  Langhorn,  elected 
by  the  stockholders. 

LVNCHBURG     AND    AFIXGDON    TFiJ  GRAPH    COMPANV. 

This  line  extends  from  Richmond,  A'irginia,  to  Bristol,  Tennessee. 
Chartered  by  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  in  1851.  Capital  stuck 
$34,700. 

President — William  S.  Morris. 

Bircctvrs — C.  M.  Blackford,  T.  J.  Kirkpatrick,  J.  Tyree,  W.  Daniel, 
elected  by  the  stockholdci%. 

EAST  TENNESSEE  TELEGRAPH  COMPANV. 

This  line  extends  from  Bristol,  Tennessee,  to  Chattanooga,  Ten- 
nessee, chartered  by  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee  in  185t)  or  1857. 
Capital  stock  $3i),()(){). 

F resident — J.  J.  Craig. 

Llrccfors — William  S.  Morris,  S.  Morrow,  W.  Swann,  elected  by 
the  stockholders. 

CHATTANOOGA    AND    ATLANTA    TELEGRAPH    LINE. 

Tbis  line  extends  from  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  to  Atlanta,  Georgia, 
being  a  portion  of  the  wires  built  by  the  Augusta,  Chattanooga  and 
Nashville  Telegraph  Company,  which  was  chartered  in  1853  by  the 
Legislatures  of  Tennessee  and  Georgia.  This  line  was  sold  under 
decrees  of  the  courts  of  the  counties  in  (?reorgia  through  which  it  ran 
and  w;is  purchased  by  xV.  D.  ILimmett,  from  whom  it  was  bought  in 
1857  by  Vrillialii  S.  Moriis,  R.  W.  Crenshaw  and  J.  S.  Langhorne. 
It  was  then  rebuilt  and  operated  in  connection  with  the  East  Tennes- 
see Telegraph  Line. 

If 

RICILMOND,    CH\RLOTTI:.sV;lLE    AND    STAUNTON    TELEGRAPH     COMPANV. 

This  line  extends  from  Richmond,  Virginia,  to  Staunton,  Virginia, 
chartered  by  the  county  court  of  Henrico  county,  Virginia,  in  1857. 
Capital  stock,  $  15,000. 


President — James  Lyons . 

Directors — 11.  II.  Maury,  Geo.  "\V.  Doiinan,  P.  T.  Moore,  E.  Fon- 
taine, R.  0.  Cro.vley. 

This  company  leased  their  line  in  1858  to  Wm.  S.  Morris,  Charles 
Scott,  and  R.  W.  Crenshaw,  and  since  that  time  it  has  been  operated 
in  connection  with  the  Washington  and  Memphis  telegraph  lines. 

SOUTHSIDE     TtLtGRAPII     LINK. 

This  line  extends  from  Lurkeville.  \'iririnia.  to  City  Point.  Vir- 
ginia; was  built  by  the  Southside  railroad  company,  and  leased  to  the 
Lynchburg  and  Abingdon  telegraph  company.     It  cost  %  5,600. 

The  report  of  W.  S.  Morris,  President  of  the  Southern  ti^legraph 
companies,  which  organization  comprises  the  above  named  companies,' 
states  that  *' all  these  lines  of  telegraph  were  cliartered  in  the  States 
where  they  are  located,  and  built  by  Southern  men,"  but  the  amount 
of  stock  in  the  said  companies  hekl  by  citizens  of  the  Confederate 
States,  and  by  alien  enemies  thereof,  is  not  reported. 

WASHINGTON  AND  NEW  ORLEANS  TELEGR  \rn  COMFANV. 

This  line  extended  from  Washington  City  to  New  Orleans,  Loui- 
siana. AVas  chartered  by  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  in  1857,  and  in 
many,  if  not  all,  of  the  States  through  which  it  passed.  The  capital 
stock  in  1.S5G,  is  reported  at  %  ^G  1,750.  Of  this  amount,  stock  to  the 
value  of  S  I78,25i),  was  owned  by  citizens  of  the  Confederate  States, 
and  the  balance  of  the  stock,  amounting  in  value  to  %  3^3,500,  is 
owned  by  stockholders  who  reside  withouj|the  limits  of  the  Confedo- 
late  States. 

In  1S5G,  the  lines  of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  compan}'- 
were  leased  to  the  Magnetic  Telegraph  company.  In  1850  the  Mag- 
lictic  Telegraph  compan^T-  was  merged  into  the  American  Telcgrapli 
company,  and  the  lease  of  the  lines  of  the  Washington  and  New  Or- 
l(i;ins  to  the  Magnetic  company  was  transfe)"red  to  tlic  American  Tcle- 
gi-aph  company.  And  m  January,  18G0,  the  following  telegraph  lines 
licretofore  mentioned,  viz.  :  the  Washington  and  IMempliis  telegraph 
line,  the  Lynchburg  and  Abingdon  telegraph  line,  the  East  Tennessee 
telcgrapli  line,  the  Chattanooga  and  Atlanta  telegraph  line,  the  Rich- 
mond, Charlottesville  and  Staunton  telegraph  Lne,  the  South-side 
telegraph  line,  were  leased  to  the  American  company,  and  continued 
To  be  opci-ated  by  that  company  until  April  or  May,  18G1,  when  Di-. 
Wm.  S.  Morris,  as  president,  Thos.  II.  Wynne,  as  treasurer,  and  J. 
11.  Dowcil,  as  general  superintendent,  assumed  the  control  of  all  the 
above  named  lines,  under  the  name  of  "  The  Southern  Telegraph 
Companies."  * 

The  cost  of  operating  these  lines,  and  the  revenues  derived  from 
them  have  been  charged  and  credited  in  gross,  and  tlierefore  the 
proper  cost  and  revenue  of  each  separate  line  cannot  now  be  ascer- 
tained. The  gross  earnings  and  disbursements  from  April,  18G1,  to 
February  1st,  1863,  are  stated,  in  a  report  made  by  Mr.  Wynne,  the 
treasurer,  to  bo  as  follows,  viz.  : 


Total  receipts  from  all  the  lines  worked 

as  Southern  Telegraph  Companies,  $  031,101   00 

Expenditures  of  all  kinds,  $  530,236    IG 

Rents  paid  stockholders  tn  the  Wilming- 
ton and  New  Orleans,  and  other  com- 
panies, whose  lines  were  leased  by  the 
American  .Telegraph  Company,  23,So4  00 

Dividends  paid  stockholders  in  Amcvican 

Telegraph  Company,  12,20-1  0(1 

°     ^  566,204   16 


Balance  on  hand,  ^  64,806   b4 

Deduct  rents  due  on  alien  stock  in  Wash- 
ington and  New  Orleans  Telegraph 
Company,  unpaid,  ^  48,406   00 

Dividends  due  and  unpaid  on  American 

Telegraph   Stock    in   the   Confederate  #  ^ 

States,  606  00 

# 49,012  00 


Net  balance,  ^  $J 5,794  84 

It  will  be  seen,  from  the  foregoing  statement,  which  is  the  substance 
of  the  report  of  Dr.  Morris  in  response  to  the  resolution  of  in- 
((uiry,  that  the  portion  of  the  capital  stock  in  each  of  the  above  named 
companies,  except  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  company,  which 
is  held  respectively  by  citizens  and  alien  enemies  of  the  Confedtratc 
States,  is  not  given.  *Nor  does  it  appear,  by  this  report,  when,  by 
whom,  or  when  the  American  Telegraph  Company  was  incorporated. 

A  copy  of  the  report  of  Dr.  Morris,  marked ''No.  1,^'  and  a  printed 
copy  of  the  letter  therein  referred  to,  marked  "No.  2,"  are  hereto  an- 
nexed. And  also  a  printed  copy  of  a  pamphlet  over  the  signature  of 
C.  P.  Culver,  bearing  on  the  same  gubjcct,  marked  *'No.  3,"  is  hereto 
annexed. 

SOUTH-WESTERN  TELEGRAPH  COMPANY. 

This  company  was  organized  in  June,  1854,  and  is  incorporated. 
John  Van  Home,  Tresident ;  George  L.  Douglas,  Treasurer ;  and 
Thomas  L.  Carter,  Secretary.  The  President,  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer constitute  the  executive  board.  The  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
were  elected  by  the  stockholders  of  the  company,  at  their  annual 
meeting  in  May,  1861,  and  the  President  was  appointed  by  this  board 
in  July,  1862.  The  capital  stock  is  $600,000,  of  which  sum  $500,000 
is  owned  by  citizens  of  the  Confederate  States;  §40,000  by  citizens  of 
the  District  of  Columbia  ;  and  $6(1,000,  held  at  the  beginning  of  the 
war  by  a  citizen  of  the  State  of  New  York,  was  sequestrated  in  the 
fall  of  1861. 

The.net  earnings  of  the  company,  from  April  15th,  1861,  to  Novem- 
ber 1st,  1862,  amount  to  $90,324.12.     Of  this  sum  $18,000  has  been 


6 

loaned  to  Southern  stockholders ;  more  than  half  the  remainder  is  in- 
vested in  Confederate  bonds.  These  bonds  and  the  balance  of  the  net 
earnings  are  held  by  the  treasurer  of  the  company,  for  the  purpose  of 
repairing  damages  sustained  by  the  property  during  the  war.  Neither 
the  gross  amount  of  receipts,  nor  the  expenses  of  this  line  are  shown. 
A  copy  of  the  report  is  herewith  marked  No.  4. 

The  lines  designated  iu  the  foregoing  as  the  Southern  Telegraph 
Companies'  lines  embrace  most  of  the  telegraph  lines  in* the  States  of 
A^irginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  East  Tennessee 
and  Central  and  South  Alabama,  and  a  line  from  2\Iobile  to  New  Or- 
leans. The  South- Western  Telegraph  Company's  lines  embrace  a 
portion  of  the  telegraph  lines  in  Kentucky,  most  of  the  lines  in  mid- 
dle and  West  Tennessee,  North  Alabama,  Mississippi  and  a  large  part 
of  the  lines  in  Louisiana.  And,  together,  these  control  the  main 
lines,  and  the  greater  portion  of  the  telegraph  lines  in  the  Confede- 
racy. 

CUBAN    TELEGRAPH    COMPANY, 

Incorporated  by  the  Legislatu»j  of  Georgia  February  loth,  1854, 
by  the  title  of  "The  Submarine  and  Terrestrial  Telegraph  Company." 
Incorporated  also  by  the  Legislature  of  Flori'la  and  sanctioned  by 
the  Captain  General  of  Cuba. 

Fresident—\\\  S.  Rockwell. 

Directors — Antonio  M.  Mora,  Jose  M.  Mora,  J.  T.  Navarro,  elected 
by  the  stockholders  April  2oth,  1859,  to  serve  until  their  successors 
were  elected  and  qualified.  Capital  stock  $8i-)0,0lU),  all  owned  by 
Spanish  citizens  in  Cuba,  except  J  10,000  held  by  the  executors  of  C 
C.  Walden,  deceased,  and  $2,000  by  W.  S.  Rockwell.  No  report  is 
made  of  the  earnings  of  this  line  for  the  reason,  as  stated,  that  the 
line  in  the  State  of  Florida  was  taken  possession  of  by  military  au- 
thority, and  no  returns  therefrom  have  been  made  to  the  President  of 
the  company.  On  the  line  in  Georgia,  the  earnings  have  been  barely 
sufficient  to  keep  up  the  line. 

No  report  of  the  earnings  of  this  line,  or  of  its  expenses,  is  given. 
A  copy  of  the  report  of  W.  S.  Rockwell,  the  President  of  the  com- 
pany, is  hereto  annexed,  marked  No.  5. 

NORFOLK  AND  PETERSBURG  TELEGRAPH  LINES. 

This  line  extends  from  Norfolk,  Virginia,  to  Petersburg,  Virginia, 
and  is  incorporated  as  among  the  rights  and  franchises  of  the  Norfolk 
and  Petersburg  Railroad  Company.  President,  General^ William  Ma- 
hone,  president  of  the  railroad  company,  and  elected  by  the  stock- 
holders of  said  company.  Capitol  stock,  part  of  the  whole  invest- 
ment in  the  railroad  which  is  said  to  be  "owned  by  much  the  larger 
part  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia,"  the  balance  by  citizens  of 
Virginia,  except  a  few  shares  held  by  aliens.  ,  The  cost  of  this  line 
is  not  shown;  no  separate  report  of  the  earnings  or  expenses  of  this 
line  is  made,  nor  is  the  amount  of  the  stock  held  in  it  by  alien'ene- 
mies  given. 


A  copy  of  tlie  report  of  Gen.  Mahone  is  hereto  annexed,  marked  No.  6. 

SOUTHERN    EXPRESS    COMPANy's    LINE. 

The  Southern  Express  Company  own  and  operate  a  line  of  telegraph 
extending  along  the  roadway  of  the  Charlotte  and  South  Carolina  Rail- 
road and  the  North  Carolina  Railroad,  and  running  from  Columbia, 
South  Carolina,  to  Raleigh,  North  Carolina.  Has  the  same  organiza- 
tion as  the  express  company  to  which  it  belongs ;  H.  B.  Plant,  Presi- 
dent. No*  separate  capital  stock.  The  earnings,  from  April  15th, 
1861,  to  December  1st,  1862,  amount  to  $8,238  96,  which  has  beeu 
disposed  of  in  operating  and  maintaining  the  line.  The  cost  of  the 
construction  of  this  line  is  not  shown,  nor  is  there  any  statement  as 
to  the  amount  of  the  capital  stock  of  the  company  by  which  it  was 
built,  which  is  owned  by  alien  enemies.  A  copy  of  the  report  of  H, 
E.  Plant,  the  President  of  the  Southern  Express  Company,  is  hereto  " 
annexed,  marked  No.  7. 

CAMDEN    AND    KTNGSVILLE    TELEGRAPH    LINE. 

'This  line  w^as  built  by  private  subscription  in  1859.  It  has  never 
been  incorporated;  was  put  up  for  the  accommodation  of  the  citizens 
of  Camden,  South  Carolina,  ancf  with  the  amount  of  its  earnings  and 
private  contributions  the  line  is  kept  up  and  maintained,  but  is  a 
source  of  profit  to  no  one.  J.  K.  Witherspoon  is  the  manager  and 
owner.     A  copy  of  his  report  is  hereto  annexed,  marked  No.  S. 

POINT    CLEAR    TElWraPII    LINE. 

This  line  was  built  by  private  subscription  in  1858.  It  has  never 
been  incorporated.  Was  put  up  for  convenience  during  the  summer 
and  is  owned  entirely  by  citizens  of  the  Confederacy — has  no  capital 
stock,  and  the  earnings  barely  suihce  to  maintain  the  line  in  operation, 
A  copy  of  the  report  of  Mr.  Zantzingcr,  manager,  is  hereto  annexed, 
marked  No.  9. 

A  copy  of  the  following  letter  was  also  addressed  to  the  heads  of 
the  several  Departments  of  the  Government : 

PosTOFFicE  Department,  )     * 

Richmond,  Nov.  22,  1862.      S 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  to  you  for  answer,  at  your  earliest 
convenience,  the  following  extract  from  a  resolution  adopted  by  tho 
House  of  Representatives  of  the    Confederate    States   at  their  last 
session,  in  so  far  as  your  department  may  be  concerned,  viz  : 

*'  The  amount  expended  by  the  government  in  the  construction  and 
repair  of  telegraphic  lines,  and  salaries  of  agents  and  operators,  and 
the  revenue  derived  therefrom ;  and  the  amounts  paid  by  the  diflferent 
departments  of  the  government  since  April  15th,  1861,  for  tolls  on 
telegraphic  dispatches." 

It  is  desirable  that  your  response  should  be  received  in  season  to 
enable  me  to  make  my  report  to  the  President  on  or  before  the  re- 
assembling of  Congfess  on  the  13th  January  next. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed,)  "  JOHN  H.  REAGAN, 

Postmaster  GeneraL 
2 


10 

Copies  of  the  answers  of  the  heads  of  the  departments,  to  the  fore- 
going^ letter  are  hereto  annexed,  marked  respectively  A,  B,  C,  D,  E, 
F,  G. 

The  following  is  the  nmount  paid  by  the  different  departments  of 
the  goverenment  since  April  15th,  180 1,  for  tolls  on  telegraphic  dis- 
patches : 

Executive  Office,  April  15,  1861,  to  Nov.  1,  1862,  $3,447  08 

State  Department,  April  15,  1861,  to  Sept.  1,  1862,  1,316   28 

Treasury  Department,  April  15,  1861.  3,959   71 

War  Department,  April  15,  1861,  to  Nov.  22,  1862,  35,799  30 

Navy  Department,  April  15,  1861,  to  Nov!  31),  1862,  10,258  64 

Postoffice  Department,  April  15,  1861,  to  Nov.  22,  1862,  515  26 

Department  of  Justice,  April  15,  1861,  to  Nov.  22,  1862,  395  73 

Total,  $55,592  00 

The  amounts  shown  above  are  for  tolls  paid  on  dispatches  sent  over 
lines,  other  than  those  built  by  the  government.  All  government  dis- 
patches over  the  lines  built  by  the  government,  and  known  as  miliiary 
lines,  being  sent  over  thqm  free  of  charge.  The  amount  paid  by  the 
War  Department  does  not  represent  the  real  amount  expended  by  that 
department.  It  is  only  the  sun|.  paid  by  the  department  proper  and 
its  bureau  in  this  city,  and  d%gb  not  embrace  the  sums  paid  by  the 
disbursing  agents  of  the  department  for  the  several  commands  in  the 
field,  officers  of  posts,  and  officers  on  separate  duty  connected  with 
the  various  branches  of  the  military  service,  which  are  presumed  to 
"be  very  large,  and  which,  though  chargeable  in  the  accounts  of  such 
agent  and  officers,  had  not  been  audited  at  the  date  of  the  Secretary'ii 
report,  and  could  not  on  that  account  be  embraced  in  the  amount  of 
expenditures  for  telegraphic  dispatches  at  the  date  of  his  report. 

It  is  also  to  be  observed  that  a  number  of  telegraph  lines  have  been 
built  and  operated  under  the  direction  of  officers  of  the  army,  in  the 
absence  of  any  order  or  authority  from  this  department,  the  accounts 
for  which  are  not  settled  in  this  department,  but  it  is  presumed  are 
to  be  settled  in  the  War  Department.  1  have  no  means  of  giving,  the 
cost  of  building  and  operating  these  lines.  The  accounts  against  the 
War  Department  for  the  transmission  of  dispatches,  other  than  those 
sent  by  the  department  proper  and  its  bureaux  in  this  city,  and  by 
the  several  departments  as  tolls  on  telegraphic  dispatches,  and  exclu- 
ding the  amounts  expended  by  tlie  military  authorities,  and  not  yet 
audited,  gives  an  aggregate  amount  paid  out  by  the  government  on 
account  of  telegraphing  of  one  hundred  and  thii  ty-five  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  twenty-tour  dollars  and  fourteen  cents,  $135,824   14). 

The  concluding  portion  of  the  resolution  to  which  this  is  a  response, 
calls  for  "  such  other  information  as  may  be  deemed  useful  in  deter- 
mining the  policy  and  practicability  of  merging  the  telegraph  in  the 
postal  system  of  the  Confederate  States." 

The  foregoing  contains  all  the  information  which  this  department  is 
enabled  to  furnish  in  answer  to  the  resolution  of  the  House  of  Repre- 


11 

« 

sentativcs,  unless  it  be  to  state  that  from  the  improvements  Avliicli  have 
been  made  in  the  art  of  tele^i^raphing,  and  the  facility  and  dispatch 
>vhich  the  telegraph  lines  furnish  for  communicating  intelligence,  they 
are  becoming,  to  a  greater  extent  than  formerly,  the  rivals  of  the 
postal  service.  And  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  in  the  progress  of  their 
improvement  and  usefulness  they  ^yill  ultimately,  to  a  still  greater 
extent,  supersede  the  mails  in  the  conveyance  of  all  intelligence 
requiring  dispatch  where  they  come  into  competition. 

To  merge  the  telegraph  in  the  postal  system,  it  would  be  necessary 
for  the  Confederate  Government  to  purchase  the  existing  lines  of  tele- 
graph, or  provide  for  building  rival  lines,  and  to  obtain  the  consent  of 
the  several  States  through  which  they  pass  to  hold  nnd  usotliem  within 
their  respective  jurisdictions. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

With  great  respect, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  II.  REAGAN, 

Postmaster  General. 
The  l*Ri:siKD.\T. 


REPORT   OF   WILLIAM   S.  MORRIS,  PRESIDENT   OF  THE 
SOUTHERN  TELEGRAPH  COMPANIES. 


Office  of  tiv    Soutiiekn  Telegraph  Companies,  ) 
Riclimond,  Va.,  Dec.  20th,  1883.      I 

Si?.:  Yours  of  the  22d  of  November,  enclosing  an  extract  from  & 
resolution  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Confederate  States^ 
adopted  at  their  last  session,  is  before  me. 

Y'ou  request,  that  I  will  furnish  you  at  my  earliest  convenience 
with  a  response  to  said  resolution.  In  obedience  to  your  request,  I 
will  cheerfully  furnish  you  with,  the  information  in  relation  to  the 
telegraph  companies  which  were  before,  and  have  beei^  since  the  war, 
under  my  management  in  the  Confederate  States,  so  far  as  I  am  by 
my  position  authorized  so  to  do 

Fiist.  "The  Yv^ashington  and  Memphis  Telegraph  Company." 
The  wires  of  this  company  extend  from  War>hington  City,  via  Gor- 
donsville,  and  Chnrlottesville,  to  Lynchburg.  It  was  chartered  by 
the  county  court  of  Campbell  county  in  IH57  or  ^S5S,  in  conformitv 
to  the  statutes  of  Yirginia  in  such  cases  provided.  Capiral  stock' 
§2:5,000. 

William  S.  Morris,  President;  Charles  Scott,  R.  W.  Crenshaw  and 
J.  S.  Langhorne,  Directors — elected  by  the  stockholders. 

Second.  ''The  Lynchburg  and  Abingdon  Telegraph  Company. '^ 
The  wires  of  this  company  extend  from  Richmond,  via  Lyncbburg 
and  Wytheville,  to  Biistcl.  Chartered  by  the  Legislature  of  Virginia 
in  185!.  Capital  stock  $34,700.  William  S.  Morris.  President ;  C. 
M.  Blackford,  T.  J.  Kiikpatri-k,  J.  Tyree  and  W.  Daniel,  Directors- 
elected  by  the  stockholders. 

Third.  "The  East  Tennessee  Telegraph  Company."  The  wires  of 
this  company  extend  from  Bristol,  via  Knoxville,  to  Chattanoog-i. 
Chartere.l  by  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee  in  1S56  or  1857.  Capital 
stock.  $:30,000.  J.  J.  Craig,  President;  Wm.  S.  Morris,  S.  Morrow 
and  W.  Swann,  Directors — elected  by  the  sto<dvholder3. 

Fourth.  **  The  Chattanooga  and  Atlanta  Telegraph  Line" — extend- 
ing from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta — being  a  portion  of  the  wires  built 
by  the  Augusta,  Chattanooga  and  Nashville  Telegraph  Company, 
which  was  chartered  in  1853  by  the  Legislatures  ot  Tennessee  and 
Georgia.  This  line  was  sold  under  decrees  of  the  courts  of  the  coun- 
ties in  Georgia  through  which  it  ran,  and  was  purchased  by  A.  D. 
Hamraett,  from  whom  it  was  bought  in  1357  by  Wm.  S.  Morris,  R.  W. 
3 


14 

Crenshaw  and  J.  S.  Langhorne  It  was  then  rebuilt  and  operated  in 
connection  with  the  East  Tennessee  Telegraph  Line,  in  v.hich  these 
gentlemen  are  large  stockholders. 

Fifth.  "The  Richmond,  Charlottesville  and  Stauiton  Telegraph 
Company."  The  wires  of  this  ^'ompany  ext(  nd  from  Richmond,  t'/a 
Gordonsville  and  Charlottesville,  to  Staunton.  Chartered  'by  the 
county  court  of  Henrico  county  in  1807,  in  conformity  to  the  statutes 
of  Virginia  in  such  caf-es  provided.  Capital  stock  $I5,(U)().  James 
Lyons,  President;  R.  IL  Maury,  George  W.  Donnan,  P.  T,  Moore, 
E.  Fontaine  and  R.  0.  Crowley,  Directors.  This  company  leased 
their  line,  in  185S,  to  William  S.  Morris,  Charles  Scott  and  R.  W. 
Crenshaw,  at  six  per  cent,  upon  the  capital  stock,  and  it  has  been 
since  that  time  operated  in  connection  with  the  lines  of  the  *'  Wash- 
ington and  Memjjhis  Telegraph  Company,''  whose  wires  extended  to 
Washington  City  and  Lynciihurg. 

Sixth.  "  The  South-Side  Telegraph  Line" — extending  from  Burke- 
ville  to  City  Point — built  by  the  South-Side  Railroad  Company  and 
leased  to  the^***  Lynchburg  and  Abingdon  Telegraph  Company"  at  six 
per  cent,  on  its  cost,  $5,511(1.  • 

All  these  lines  of  telegraph  were  chartered  in  the  States  where  they 
were  located  and  built  by  aoutliern  men. 

In  1S59,  witk  the  view  of  harmonizing  and  systematizing  telegraph 
interests,  a  consolidation  of  telegraph  companies  was  efiected,  and 
these  sevefal  companies  leased  their  lines  to  the  "American  Telegraph 
(Company."  Many  of  the  stockholders  in  these  several  companies 
exchanged  their  stock  for  stock  in  the  "American  Telegraph  Com- 
pany." Others  preferred  to  hold  their  original  stock  and  take  the  six 
per  cent,  under  the  lease.  The  organization  of  these  several  c  )rapa- 
nies  since  the  lease  was  effected  has  been  preserved,  and  the  stock- 
holders have  been  paid  their  six  per  cent,  regularly. 

Seventh.  "  The  Wasliington  and  New  Orleans  Telegraph  Company," 
The  wii-es  of  this  company  ext'^nd  from  Washington  City,t'/a  Freder- 
icksburg, Richmond,  Wilmington,  Augusta,  Montgomery  and  Mobile, 
to  ISew  Orleans.  It  was  chartered  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of 
Virginia  in  1847,  and  also,  (I  believe,)  in  many,  if  not  all,  the  States, 
through  '.>hich  the  wires  passed.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  companies 
on  this  continent,  and  its  lines  were  built  at  an  enormous  expense, 
and  hence  the  capital  stock  is  large,  and  has  been  operated  to  very 
little  profit  to  the  stockholders  before  it  was  leased.  I  was  not  a 
stockholder  in  this  company  before  the  commencement  of  the  war,  and 
can  only  give  its  history  from  some  of  the  published  proceedings 
which  have  come  into  my  possession  from  time  to  time. 

The  business  office  of  this  company  was  in  Washington  City. 
There  its  proceedings  were  had  J^nd  its  executive  officers  resided. 
This  company,  in  1856,  leased  its  lines  to  the  "  Magnetic  Telegraph 
Company,"  at  four  per  cent,  upon  the  capital  stock,  which  was  at  that 
time  $561,75;).  The  directors  at  that  time  were  B.  B.  French,  Edw'd 
G.  Hyde,  S.  Mowry,  Jr.,  Charles  T.  Pollard,  James  Reid,  Benjamin 
Jones,  R.  R.  Cuyler,  Samuel  Tait  and  W.  M.  Swain ;  Amos  Kendall, 
President. 


15 

In  1859,  when  the  consolidation  of  telegraph  lines  was  effected, 
the  '' Mngnetic  Company"  leased  its  own  lines  and  transferred  the 
lease  of  the  lines  of  the  ''Washington  and  New  Orleans  Company'* 
to  the  "American  Telegraph  Company."  Of  these  '' directors,"  only 
four  now  live  in  the  Confederate  States,  and  of  this  capital  stock 
$178,25  I  is  held  by  citizens  of  the  Confederate  States,  leaving  a  bal- 
ance, :f?.383,5iHI,  held  out  of  the  Confederate  States. 

As  the  books  and' records  of  the  company  were  kept  in  Washington 
City  it  is  impossible  now  to  ascertain  who  are  the  individual  stock- 
holders, outside  of  the  Confederate  States  or  in  what  States  of  the 
United  States,  they  reside.  Some  of  them  may  be  residents  of  coun- 
tries foreign  to  the  United  States. 

For  information  in  relation  to  all  these  telegraph  lines  and  interests 
since  the  comn  encement  of  the  war^  I  refer  you  to  the  letter  addressed 
to  you  on  the  19th  of  May,  1862,  a  copy  of  which  is  herewith  en- 
closed, which  contains  a  detailed  history  of  events  and  proceedings  of 
stockhohlers  up  to  that  date. 

A^ery  respectfully , 

Your  obedient  servant, 

4  WM.  S.  MORRIS, 

President  Southern  Tikp'oph  Cornpanus,. 
To  Hon.  J    II.  Reagan, 

Postmaster  General. 


Richmond,  February  7th,  1363'. 
Dr.  W.  S.  Morris,  President  Scut  hern  Ttlegraph  Companies : 

Dear  Sir:  In  reply  to  your  note  of  the  5th  instant,  requesting  me 
to  furnish  you  with  a  statement  of  the  receipts  and  disbursements  of 
the  Southern  Telegraph  Companies,  I  have  to  report  as  follows: 

Uot.il  receipts  from  aMthe  lines  worked  as  Southern 
telegraph  companies  from  April,  1861,  to  February 
1,  1863,  ♦■  $631,101.  Qih 

Expenditures  of  all  kinds.  $530,236    16 

Renrs  paid  stockholders  in  the  Wash- 
ington and  New  Orleans  and  other 
companies  whose  lines  were  leased 
by  the  American  Telegraph  Company,        23,854  GO 

Dividends  paid  stockholders.in  the  Ame- 
rican Telegraph  Company  residing  in  ^        ' 
the  Confederate  States,                                  12,204  0.0 

566,294   16" 


Balance  on  hand,  $64,806  84 


16 

From  wliich  is  to  be  de'lucted^i-ents  due 

on  alien  stock  m  the  Washington  and 

Kew  ()ih\ins  I'elegraph  Company  and 

unpaid,  S^8,4()6   00 

Dividends  due  and  unpaid  on  American 

telegraph  stock  in  Confederate  States,  G(i6  00 


49,012  00 


E.  0.  E.  Kett  balance,  $15,794  84 

All  01  which  is  respectfully  submitted  by 

Your  obedient  servant, 

TilOS.  11.  WYNKE, 
Treasurer  Southern  Telegraph  Companies, 


Officj.^  Sout|iern  Telegraph  Companies.  ) 
llichmond,  Va.,  May  lO.th    18(32.       I 

Hon.  J.  II.  ItEAGiN,  PoHmaster  General  : 

Sfp.  :  On  the  1st  of  this  month  it  became  necessary,  in  ray  opinion, 
•to  dismiss  from  the  service  of  the  Telegraph  Companies  L.  F.  Zant- 
zinger,  manager  of  the  office  at  Mobile,  because  of  the  report  to  me  by 
the  8up'jrintendent,  of  his  inattention  to  the  duties  of  the  ollice — his 
indisposition  to  obey  any  instructions  which  were  given  to  him  by  said 
Superintendent;  and  ako  because  it  was  reported  tome  by  our  Treas- 
nrer,  that  he,  Zantzinger,  was  in  arrears  up  to  the  1st  of  April,  in  the 
Bum  of  q|cven  hundred  and  forty-eight  dollars  and  thirty-one  cents, 
and  had  failed  to  make  any  deposits  during  the  months  of  March  or 
April. 

I  also  ih  iught  it  necesviry  to  dism-iss  from  the  serviae  of  the  com- 
panies William  Tanner,  who  had  been  acting  as  local  superintendent 
of  the  division  of  the  lines  extended  from  Columbus,  Georgia,  to  New 
Orleans,  Louisiana;  because  of  the  great  irregularity  in  the  working 
•of  that  section — the  a^thfulness  and  tardiness,  of  the  operators  under 
his  control — the  imp^sibility  of  getting  any  information  as  to  the 
condition  of  his  lines  earlier  in  tlie  day  than  from  12-  to  2  o'clock — 
his  failure  to  correct  these  evils,  after  repe.ited  remonstrances— en- 
gaging in  the  cDnstruction  and  operation  of  other  lines  of  telegraph 
withoiit  the  authority  or  consent  of  these  companies,  and  his  attempt 
to  charge  the  Government  for  ex«tra  scr\Mce,  when  his  salary  had  be.'n 
recently  increased  by  the  companies,  and  was  considered  sufficient  re- 
jrecompense'tor  all  the  duties  assigned  to  him. 

Mr.  W.  Sanford,  of  North  Carolina,  who  had  for  many  years  been  in 
t'he  service  of  the  companies  of  which  I  had  the  control,  was  sent  to 
Mobile  as  manager  of  tl^at  office,  in  place  of  L.  F.  Zantzinger.  j\Ir. 
C.  T.  Campbell,  of  Virginia,  who  had  served  many  years  on  the  same 


17 

l-nes,  was  directed  to  take  charge  as  superintendent  of  tbe  division  of 
the  iine^  up  to  that  time  under  the  supervision  of  Wiilinm  Tinner. 
When  Sanf jrd  and  Campbell,  in  obedience  to  instruuctions,  arrived  in 
Mobile  and  presented  leu  ers  of  dismissal  to  those  gentlemen,  and  their 
authoiity  to  assume  the  positions,  they  were  informed  that  (general 
Br.-igg  liad  taken  m  litary  possession  of  the  lines,  and  had  appointed^ 
William  Tanner  military  superintendent  over  the  lines  in  AlaiKima 
and  Florida,  and  that  Mr.  Zantainger  had  b^en  appointed  iieneral  su- 
pentendent.  They  positively  declined  to  deliver  money,  batik  books, 
or  any  other  property  belonging  to  the  companies  to  my  appointees,  and 
refused  to  allow  them  to  enter  the  operating  department  at  Mobile. 
An  order  was  also  sent  by  telegraph  to  Montgomery  by  Zantzinger,  to 
arrest  Mr.  Roache,  one  of  the  operators  in  that  office,  for  what  cause 
I  have  not  yet  been  informed. 

As  soon  as  I  was  apprised  of  these  facts,  I  presented  tlie  dispatches 
upon  the  subject  to  yourself  and  General  Lee.  In  reply  to  the 
message  of  General  Lee  of  the  1st  or  2nd  of  May,  ordering  the  in- 
Btallinei|t  of  Messrs.  Campbell  and  Sanford,  in  the  respective  positions 
which  had  been  assigned  them,  the  following  was  received  from  Corinth, 
dated  May,  iird  :  •  . 

**To  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee: 

"The  order  placing  our  telegraph  under  the  supervision  of  Morris, 
Dowell  &  Co.,  a  Yankee   concern,  will  break  up  all  operations  in  the 
South-West — stockholders,  operators,    agents,    all   rebels.      See   my 
correspondence  in  war  office  of  November  or  December  last. 
•  (Signed.) 

BiiAXTON  Bragg. 
In  reply  to  your  message  of  the  2nd  the  fdlowing   was  received, 
dated  Mobile,  Srd  : 
*'To  John  II.  Reaga.v, 

Postmaster  General.  ^    " 

*•  The  reason  why  it  is  desirable  to  retain  the -old  officers  of  the 
telegraph  line  is  explained  by  General  Bragg  to  General  Lee.  Gene- 
ral Bragg  has  directed  me  to  send  to  Richmond  a  proper  per.von  to 
further  explain  the  deranged  state  of  telegraph  affairs  out  here.  I 
think,  with  General  Bragg,  that  meanwhile  the  old  officers  had  best  be 
retained.  ^ 

(Signed,)  J.  H.  Forney, 

Brigadier  General  Commaiidingy 

These  two  dispatches,  and  also  the  correspondence  with  the  War 
Department  of  December  last,  you  permitted  me  to  see  when  I  last 
had  a  personal  interview  with  you  on  the  subject,  and  you  at  the  same 
time  expressed  your  dt termination  to  await  tUe  arrival  of  the  person, 
alluded  to  in  General  Forney's  message,  before  taking  further  action 
\ti  the  matter. 

Many  days  have  elapsed  since  that  interview,  it  is  now  the  nine-* 
teenth  day  of  the  month;   and  I  am  infojmed   that  General  Withers 


18 

arrived  in  this  city  some  days  ago,  charged  with  the  duty  referred  to 
in  the  dispatch  of  (feneral  Forney  to  yourself. 

A  copy  of  the  Mobile  Tribune,  of  the  fourth  instant,  containing  an 
anonymous  communication  in  relation  to  this  whole  subject  has  been 
sent  to  me,  and  no  doubt  your  attention  has  been  called  to  it.  Tho 
■  correspondence  of  General  Bragg,  the  article  in  the  Mobile  Tribune, 
and  your  deferred  faction  in  the  premises,  make  it  my  duty,  however 
urgent  the  demand  upon  my  time  may  be,  to  submit  for  your  consid- 
erd^tion,  the  following  facts  in  relation  to  my  connection  Avith  the  tide- 
graph  lines  in  the  Confederate  States,  in  vindication  of  myself  and  in 
justice  to  those  I  represent,  and  also  to  induce  you  after  this  exposi- 
tion, to  take  such  action  as  your  duty  to  yourself,  your  duty  to  your 
country,  and  a  regard  for  right  and  justice  may  prompt. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  May  last,  in  answer  to  my  letter  of.  the 
twenty-first,  offering  to  co-operate  with  the  governmevit  of  the  ('on- 
federate  States  in  making  the  lines  of  telegraph  under  my  control 
subserve  the  public  good,  you  say,  after  thanking  me,  ''  I  have  to  say 
that  the  President,  without  knowing  the  precise  extent  of  youf  autho- 
rity, accepts  your  offer,  and  has  adopted  such  regulations  for  carrying 
into  effect  the  act  of  Confess  relating  to  telegraph  lines  in  the  Con- 
federate States,  as  will  best  secure  that  object,  w^ith  the  least  possible 
inconvenience  or  injury  to  the  telegraph  companies  ;  and  he  will  do 
whatever  he  lawfully  may,  to  protect  the  rights  and  property  of  all 
telegraph  companies  acting  subordinately  to,  and  in  good  faith  towards 
the  Confederate  States.  I  will  furnish  you  copies  of  the  acts  of  Con- 
gress relating  to  this  subject,  and  of  the  instructions  adopted  by  the 
President  to  :secure  their  execution  ;  and  shall  be  obliged  by  your 
friendly  co-operation  and  assistance  in  giving  them  full  effect  to  the 
extent  of  your  authority,"  &c. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  May  last,  at  Montgomery,  you  addressed 
the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Dowell  and  myself : 

"  I  beg  to  request  that  you  will  furnish  to  the  respective  agents 
and  operators  on  the  lines  of  telegraph  under  your  control,  a  copy  of, 
the  instructions  of  this  Department,  isr,ued  on  the  tvventy-second  in- 
stant, and  addressed  to  the  telegraph  agents,  operators,  and  others, 
■connected  with  the  supervision  and  management  of  telegraph  c(5mpa- 
ni(3s  or  lines  in  the  Confederate  States,  for  the  purpose  of  securing 
the  due  execution  of  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  Congress  of  tho 
eleventh  of  May,  1861,  relating  to  telegraph  lines  in  the  said  States, 
and  also  that*  you,  or  either  of  you,  will  take  the  necessary  step-}  to 
Jiave  the  oath  prescribed  by  said  act  duly  administered  to  said  agents, 
-operators,  &c.,  and  returned  to  this  dep  irtnient." 

In  order  to  carry  out  your  instructions,  it  was  necessary  that 
myself  or  Mr.  Dowell  should  visit  in  person  the  several  offices.  When 
I  reached  Charleston,  I  was  informed  that  there  had  been  a  meeting 
of  stockholders  of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans,  Telegraph 
Company  in  that  city,  and  I  addressed  to  the  committee  appointed 
by  that  meeting,  the  following  letter,  which  is  explanatory  of  my  then 
relatipns  to  the  stockholders  of  the  company  : 


19 

CiiARLESTOiN  IIoTEL,  June  4tb,   ISGl. 
** Messrs.  Henry  Gcurdin,  Hon.  diaries  McBUh  and  L.  D.  Mowry  : 

Gentlemen  :  In  a  recent  number  of  the  Charleston  Courier,  my 
attention  was  called  to  a  notice  of  a  meeting;  of  a  portion  of  the 
Btockholders  of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  Telegraph  Com- 
pany, the  object  of  which,  as  explained  by  the  chairman  of  the  meet- 
ing, was  with  the  view  of  adopting  or  ascertaining  what  measures 
were  necessary  for  the  protection  of  their  interests  in  the  company 
under  the  new  order  of  things.  You,  gentlemen,  were  appointed  a 
committee  of  three  to  obtain  all  necessary  information  and  report  to 
an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  stockholders. 

On  the  2Gth  of  April  labt,  the  General  Superintendent  of  the  tele- 
graph lines  South  of  Washington  city,  requested  me,  as  a  director  of 
the  American  Telegraph  Company,  to  meet  him  in  the  city  of  Rich- 
mond. He  stated  that  communication  between  the  North  and  South 
was  so  in<-errupted,  that  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  the  efficiency 
and  proper  management  of  the  lines  of  telegraph  in  the  South,  that 
a  Souihern  auditor  and  treasurer  should  be  jippointed  in  the  Suuth ; 
that  the  earnings  of  the  line^^  had  been,  and  were  beirtg  deposited  to 
the  credit  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  American  Telegraph  Company,  who 
resided  in  New  York,  subject  to  his  check  ;  that  in  the  disturbed  re- 
lations between  the  two  sections  it  was  impossible  to  make  rcjiorts  to, 
or  obtain  drafts  from  the  American  company;  that  independent  of 
considerations  of  public  policy, 'the  interest  of  the  lines  South  and 
South-West  require  the  appointment  of  an  auditor  and  treasurer  in 
the  South.  I  was  the  only  director  of  the  American  company  in 
the  Sourh.  I  have  been  connected  as  President  with  lines  cxten<ling 
from  VVashington  City,  via  Richmond,  Lynchburg,  Bristol,  Knoxvillo 
and  Chattanooga,  to  Atlanta   in  Georgia. 

In  the  consolidation  of  tele^rraph  lines  and  companies  in  January, 
18G0,  che  lines  under  my  contiol  were  leased  to  the  American    com- 
pany.    Since  that  consoli<lation  the  organization  of  these  compmies 
has  been  preserved  and  I  have  been  elected  President  of  them.     They\ 
were  organized  under  several  separate  charters-. 

In  the  state  of  affairs  which  existed  at  the  time  the  General  Super- 
intendent called  my  attention  to  the  subji^ct  hereinbefore  referred  to; 
I  requested  Mr.  Tliomas  FI.  Wynne,  of  Richmond,  Yiiginia,  who  is  ;•. 
large  stockholder  in  the  V/ashington  and  New  Orleans  compariy,  and 
also  a  stockholder  in  tiie  American  company,  to  be  present  and  to  con- 
fer with  the  General  Superintendent  a  i<l  ltl3^self,  as  to  the  best  means' 
to  be  adopted  for  preserving  and  protecting  the  telegraph  interests  in 
the  South. 

Re  was  the  only  stockholder  in  the  Washington  and  New  Oi  leans 
company  with  whom  1  was  personally  acquainted.  Mr.  Wynne 
is  a  gentleman  who  occupies  a  position  of  trust  and  responsibility  in 
connection  with  the  Richmond  and  Petersburg  Railroad — his  busi- 
ness qualifiation,  his  identity  of  interests,  his  unexceptionable  char- 
acter, and  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  residence,  were  reasons 
which  induced   me  to  urge  him  to  except  the  position  of  auditor  and 


'  ^  20 

treasurer,  lie  giving  a  bond  with  ample  security  in  the  sum  of  fifty 
tlionsand  dollars  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties.  He  con- 
tented to  act,  and  aL  order-^  was  i.^sued  to  the  managers  of  the 
telegraph  offices  in  the  South  and  South-West,  to  deposit  all 
monies  on  and  nfter  that  date  (the  27th  of  ApriL)  to  his  cre<lit.  sub- 
ject to  his  check,  countersigned  by  m^  self.  These  proceedings  were 
written  out  and  signed  by  myselfj  himself  and  Mr.  Dowell,  the 
General  Superintendent,  and  sent  to  be  submitted  to  tlie  American 
company;  that  company  subsequently  expres.^ed  through  their  Prf.^i- 
dent  their  approval. 

On  the  0th  of  May,  following,  I  was  informed  by  tel.cgraph'by  the 
General  Superintendent,  that  it  was  imperatively  necessary,  in  order 
to  enforce  the  rules  and  secure  efficiency  and  fidelity  in  the  operations, 
in  the  lines,  that  I  should  co  operate  with  hir.i  as  President,  not  only, 
of  the  lines  running  South-West.  but  should  assuiue  the  duties  of 
President  of  the  Wa.^lnngton  and  New  Orleans  lines.  I  hesitated  to 
undertake  responsibilities  under  such  circumstances,  and  consulted 
the  stookhoLlers  residing  in  Lynchburg,  the  only  parties  accessible 
to  me  and  identified  in  interest  with  myself  and  other  stockholders  in 
the  South.  I  was  urged  to  do  so  by  them,  and  they  united  in  a  dis- 
patch to  the  Governor  of  Virginia  setting  forth  the  facts  of  the  case, 
v/ho  ordered  me  to  resign  my  position  in  the  volunteer  service  of  the 
State  On  the  10th  of  May,  1  received  a  dispatch  from  the  President 
of  the  American  company  requesting  me  to  meet  him  at  Washington. 
In  the  interview  had  with  him  on  the'  1  lth,in  company  with  Mr.  J.  R. 
Dowell,  the  General  Superintendent,  I  related  the  events  of  the  few 
previous  days  touching  the  additional  duties  1  had  assumed  in  connec- 
tion with  the  telegraph  interests  in  the  South;  I  fstated  also  to  him 
that*  in  the  existing  state  of  relations  between  the  North  and  South, 
the  lines  must  necessarily  bs  worked  distinctly  and  separately  in  the 
two  sections,  and  tliat  it  was  impossible  to  foresee  what  might  be  the 
relations  of  pirties  in  the  future;  he  concurred  with  me  in  these 
o})inions. 

The  day  foll(,\wing,  on  my  way  home,  I  was  informed  by  telegraph 
that  my  immediate  presence  in  MontjL'Oiner /  was  necessary  to'p^-otect 
the  interests  of  the  telegraph.  Without  stopping  at  my  home,  I  went 
to  the  seat' of  governyient  of  the  Confederate  States,  I  waited  upon 
tl>.e  authorities  there,  and  expressed  my  willingness  to  co-operato 
with  them  in  any  measure  which  it  might  be  necessary  to  adopt  to 
make  the  telegraph  lines  in  the  Confederate  States  subserve- the  pub- 
lic good  ;  I  found  them  disposed  to  adopt  such.regulntions  only  to  carry 
into  effect  the  act  of  Congress  relating  to  lines  in  the  Confederate 
States,  as  ^Y0uld  best  secure  that  object  with  the  least  possible  incon- 
venience or  injury  to  the  telegraph  companies,  and  was  assured  that 
they  would  do  whatever  they  lawfully  could,  to  protect  the  rights  and 
property  of  all  telegrapli  companies  acting  suhordinately  to,  and  in 
good  faith  towards  the  Confederate  States  They  also  accepted  the 
tender  of  my  services  to  institute  enquiries  as  to  the  means  of  procur- 
ing the  manufacture  of  wire  for  such  military  lines  of  telegraph  as 
may  be  wanted  by  the  government,  and  also  for  the  manufacture  of  iii-^ 


21 

fiulators  of   glass,  and    urged    the  importance  of  ascertaing    ^vhere 
these  supplies  could  \)e  had  at  the  earliest  day  practicable. 

The  earnings  of  the  Southern  lines  have  been,  since  April  27th, 
and  will  conrinue  to  b3,  deposited  to  tlie  credit  of  Mr.  Thombs  II. 
Wynne,  Treasurer,  at  Richmond,  Va. 

I  design  to  pay  punctually  j'^nd  promptly  to  the  stoclcholders,  both 
of  the  'Vashington  and  New  Orleans  company,  and  the  srockholdors 
of  the  South-Western  lines,  their  rents  when  due  them,  and  the  sur- 
plus after  paying  all  neccssury  expenses  will  be  retained  to  the  ere  lit 
of  the  Treasurer,  subject  to  tke  order  of  the  parties  legally  and  right- 
fully entitled  tp  it. 

In  my  interview  with  yon  to-day  you  desired  me  to  comm^nnicate 
these  facts  and  events.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  so  plainly,  brietiy  and 
as  succinctly  as  I  could.  You  are  thus  made  acquainted  with  my 
connection  with  your  interests  and  the  interests  of  others  up  to  this 
dare. 

The  action  of  the  State  of  the  Virginia,  the  contemplated  action  cf 
other  States,  and  the  apprehended  action  of  the  Confederate  States, 
and  the  proper  discipline  and  enforceraeni  of  the  rules  and  regulations 
prescribed  for  telegraphic  agents  and  operators,  made  it  absolutely  ne- 
cessary that  sonie  one  should  act  promptly  to  protect  the  interest  of 
stockholders  and  fecure  promptness  antl  efficiency  in  the  telegraph 
lines  in  the  Confederate  States.  This  I  have  endeavored  to  do,  and 
trust  that  I  will  have  the  approval  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Wash- 
ington and  New  Orleans  company,  in  my  efforts  in  this  behalf. 

1  cannot  conclude  this  comunic  rtion  without  urging  upon  you  the 
importance  oT  harmony  and  united  action  of  telegraph  companies  in 
the  South  in  these  times  of  trial  and  danger,  when  the  wants- and  in- 
terests of  individuals  and  companies,  §hould  b'e  made  subordinate' to 
the  general  and  universal  desire  to  promote  the  public  good  and  na- 
tional safety. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

'WM.  S.  MORRIS, 
President  Southern  Telegraph  Comparivs. 

(Copy.) 


A  short  time  after  I  left  Charleston,  a  copy  of  the  Charlestoa 
Courier  was  sent  to  me  with  the  following  publication  of  proceedings  : 

WASHINGTON  AND  NEW  ORLEANS  TELEGRAPH  COMPANY. 

A  meeting  of  thp  stockholders,  in  this  State  of  the  Washington 
and  New  Orleans  Telegraph  Company,  was  held  at  the  bank  of 
Charleston  yesterday,  when  the  Hon  Charles  Macbeth,  Mayor,  was 
called  to  the  chair,  and  L.  D.   Mowry  requested  to  act  as  Secretary. 

Mr.  Henry  Gourdin.  Chairman  of  a  connnittee  appointed  at  a  pre- 
vious meeting,  submitted  the  following  report  which  was  unanimously 
|dopted  : 


2f 

The  committee,  appointed  at  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  this 
State  in  the  Washin^^ton  and  New  Orleans  Te-le.i^rapk  Company,  re- 
port respectfully  :  That  within  a  day  or  two  after  the  adjournment 
of  ^aitl  meeting,  they  were  waited  upon  by  Dr.  W.  S.  Morris,  of  Rich- 
mond and  Mr.  J.  11.  Do  well,  the  former  President  of  certain  compa- 
nies known  as  the  South-Western  lines  of  Telegraph,  extending  from 
Washington  through  Knoxvillc  and  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  and  now 
acting  President  of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  Company,  and 
the  latter  gentleman  superintendent  of  the  several  lines  South  of  Wash- 
ington under  the  appointment  of  the  American  Telegraph  Company, 
to  which  company  the  several  lines  South  of  Washii^ton  had  been 
leased.  • 

These  gentlemen  state  thfit  "being  in  Augusta,  on  their  way  from 
Montgomery  to  Richmond,  their  attention  was  called  to  a  notice  in 
the  (Charleston  papers  of  a  meeting  of  a  portion  of  the  stockholders 
in  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  Telegraph  Compjxny,  and  that 
ignorant  of  the  purposes  of  the  meeting,  and  desiring  themselves  to 
promote  harmony  and  unity  of  action  among  the  stockholders  in  the 
several  Southern  States,  as  well  as  between  the  several  Southern  and 
and  AVestern  lines,  they  had  deemed  it  best  to  come  at  once  to 
Charleston  to  explain  in  person  their  connection  with  the  company, 
and  what  they  had  done  to  protect  the  interest  of  tj|e  stocldiolders  m 
the  several  companies,  and  to  insure  the  faithful  and  efficient  working 
of  the  lines. 

*  •  Dr  Morris  states,  thiit  on  the  2Gth  day  of  April  last,  Mr.  D  )\vell, 
for  many  years  the  General  Superintendent  of  all  the  telegraph  lines 
South  and  South- West  of  Washington,  re(iueste  I  him.*as  a  direjtor 
in  the  American  Telegraph  Company,  to  meet  him  in  the  city  of 
Richmond;  that,  at  that  meeting,  .Mr.  Dowell  informed  him  that  com- 
munication between  the  North  and  the  South  ha/l  become  so  interrupt- 
ed, that  the  appointment  of  a  Southern  auditor  and  treasurer  became 
absolutely  necessary  to  the  efficiency,  safety,  and  proper  manage- 
ment of  the  lines  of  telegraph  in  the  South;  that  the  earnings  of  the 
Soiitliern  lines  had  been,^and  were  still  being  desposited  to  the  credit 
of  the  Treasurer  of  the  American  Telegraph  Com.pany.  who  resided  in 
New  York,  subject  to  his  check;  thiit,  in  the  disturbed  relations  be- 
tween the  two  sections,  it  was  impossible  to  mtike  reports  to  or  obtain 
drafrs  from  the  American  Telegraph  Company,  and  that  independent 
of  considerations  of  public  feeling,  the  interests  of  the  lines  South 
and  South- West  requirel  the  immediate  appointment  of  an  auditor 
and  Treasurer  in  the  South. 

Dr.  Morris  further  states,  that  he  was  the  or»ly  director  of  the 
American  Telegraph  Company  at  the  time  ir»  the  South  ;  that  he  had 
been  connected  as  President  with  lines  of  telegranh  extending  from 
Washington  city,  by  way  of  Richmond,  Lynchburg,  Bristol,  Knox- 
ville  and  Chattanooga,  to  Atlanta;  that  they  were  oganized  under 
several  separate  charters,  and  that  in  the  consoli  lacion  of  the  several 
companies  in  1860,  these  being  under  his  control,  and  known  as  the 
South-Western  lines,  were  leased,  as  were  the  Washington  and  New 
Orleans  Coupany,  to  the  American  Telegraph  Company;  but  that  the 


23 

• 
organization  of  these  companies  had  been  preserved,  and  that  he  was 
still  President  of  them. 

Dr.  Morris  further  sajs,  that  when  called  on  by  the  Superintendent 
to  meet  him  in  Richmond,  he  retjuested  Mr,  Thos.  H.  Wynne,  of 
Richmond,  a  largo  stockholder  in  both  the  Washington  and  New  Or- 
leans  and  the  American  Telegraph  Companies,  to  be  present  and  con- 
fer with  the  General  Superintendent  and  himself,  as  to  the  best  means 
to  be  adopted  to  preserve  and  protect  the  telegraph  interest  of  the 
South. 

]Mr.  AVynne  was  the  only  stockholder  in  the  Washington  and  New 
Orlenns  *Comp;j,ny  with  whom  he  was  acquainted,  and  with  whom,  in 
the  emergency  that  existed,  it  was  possible  to  consult,  and  that  the  posi- 
tion of  trust  and  responsibility  occupied  by  him  in  connection  with 
the  Richmond  and  Petersburg  Railroad — his  business  qualifications, 
identity  of  interests,  unexceptionable  character,  and  place  of  na- 
tivir/v  and  residence,  were  reasons  which  induced  him  to  urge  Mr. 
Wynne  to  except  the  place  of  auditor  and  treasurer,  he  giving  a  bond 
of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  with  securiry,  for  the  faithful  discharge  of 
his  duties. 

Mr.  Wynne  having  consented  to  act,  orders  were  issuetl  to  tlie  man- 
agers of  telegraph  offices  m  the  South  and  South-Vrest,  to  deposit  all 
monies  (on  and  ait"r  the  27th  April.)  to  his  credit,  Subject  to  his 
check,  countersigne/l  by  him.  Dr.  Morris. 

Thes^  proceedings.  Dr.  Morris  states,  were  w^ritten  ou^.,  and  signed 
by  himself,  the  Genei'al  Superinten-lent,  Mr.  Dowell,  and  Mr.  Wynne^ 
aud  having  been  sent  to  be  submitted  to  the  American  Telegraph 
Oompin-y,  that  Company  subsequently,  through  its  President,  ex- 
pressed its  approval. 

On  the  9tli  of  May  following,  some  difficulties  having  occurred  in 
the  management,  the  General  Superintendent  again  addressed  a  dis- 
patch to  Dr.  Morris,  stating,  th  It  to  enforce  the  rales  and  regulations, 
and  to  secure  efficiency  and  fidelity  in  the  operations  of  the  lines,  it 
was  imperatively  n  cessary  that  Dr.  Morris  should  co  operate  with 
him,  not  only  as  President  of  the  lines  running  South-West,  but  that 
he  should  assume  the  duties  of  President  of  the  Washington  and  New 
Orleans  Company  also.  Hesitating.  Dr.  Morris  says,  to  assume  du- 
ties and  responsibilities  under  such  circumstances,  he  consulted  the 
ptockliolders  residing  in  LyTtchbiirtr.  the  only  parties  accessible  to 
him  at  the  time,  and  identified- with  himself  and  other  stockholders  in 
the  South,  and  that  urged  by  them  to  comply  with  the  suggestions  of 
the  General  Superintendent,  they  utiittd  in  a  dispatch  to  the  Governor 
of  Virginia,  setting  f)rth  the  facts  of  the  case,  and  that,  in  vieV  of 
them,  the  Governor  ordered  him  to  resign  his  position  in  thevolun- 
t<)er  service  ot  the  State. 

-Dr.  Morris  further  states,  that  on  the  lOth  of  May,  he  receis'ed  a 
dispatch  from^the  President  of  the  American  Telegraph  Company, 
requesting  him  to  meet  him  at  Washington  City,  and  th-^t  in  the  in- 
terview had  with  him  on  that  occasion,  the  ilth  Ma;i  ,  in  company 
with  the  General  Superintendent,  he.  Dr.  Morris,  related  the  events 
of  the  few   previous  days   touching   the  addit  onal   duties   he  had  as- 


24 

suineil  in  connection  with  the  Teleo:raph  interests  in  the  Scutli:  sta- 
tinor  also  that  in  tlie  exi>ting  lelanons  hetweon  the  North  and  the 
South,  the  Lines  most  necosarily  be  worked  separately  in  the  two 
sections,  and  that  it  wa<  inipossihhj  to  foresee  what  would  he  tlie  rvda- 
tions  of  parties  in  the  future;  in  all  of  which  opinions  he  concuned. 
Dr  iMorris  further  says,  tliat  on  the  day'following,  the  12th  ilay, 
on  Ijis  wjiy  home  he  was  informed  by  teiegram  that  hi"  inmicdiate 
presence  was  necessary  in  Montgomery  to  protect  the  interests  of  the 
Telegraph  (.'ompanies;  that  lie  went  on  forthwith  to  Montgomery, 
waited  on  the  authorities,  expressed  his  willingness  to  co-operate  in 
any  measures  that  might  be  deemed  necessary  to  make  the  Telegraph 
Ljnes  in  the  Confeilerate  i^tates  subserve  the  public  interests,  and  that 
he  found  a  disposi  ion  to  a^lopt  such  regulations  only  as  were  neces- 
sary to  carry  into  eftect  the  act  of  Congress  relating  to  Telegraph 
Lines  in  the  Confederate  States,  and  to  secure  that  object  with  the 
least  possible  inconvenience  and  injury  to  the  Companies. 

Dr.  Morris  says  also,  that  assurances  were  given  him  that  every 
thing  that  could  lawfully  be  done  to  protect  the  rights  and  property 
of  all  tbe  companies  acting  subordinately  to,  and  in  good  laitii  to- 
wards the  Confederate  States  w^ould  be  done. 

'ihe  earnings  of  the  Southern  Lines,  Dr.  Morris  says,  have,  since 
the  27th  Ap»?l,  been,  and  will  con  inue  to  be,  deposited  to  the  credit 
of  Thomas  IL  Wynne,  Treasurer,  at  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  that  ho 
designs,  after  payirtg  the  current  expenses  incident  to  the  working  of 
the  Linos, -to  pay  to  the  stockliolders  of  both  Lines — the  Wjtshington 
and  New  Orleans,  and  the  South-Western  Lines-i-the  rents  or  divi- 
dends, at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  when  due  them,  and 
that  the  surplus,  if  any,  will  be  retained,  subject  to  the  order  of  the 
parties  legally  and  rigiufully  entitled  to  it. 

Dr.  Morris  concludes  by  stating,  that  the  action  of  the  State  of 
Virginia,  the  contemplated  action  of  other  States,  the  apprehended 
action  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  the  proper  discipline  and  enforce- 
ment of  the  rules  and  regulations  for  Telegraphic  agents  and  operators 
made  it  absolutely  necessary  that  some  one  should  act  promptly  to 
protect  the  interests  of  stockhoMers  and  secure  promptness  and  'effi- 
ciency in  the  lines  in  the  Confederate  States.  This  he  says  he  ha3 
endeavored  to  do,  and  trusts  that  he  will  have  the  approval  of  the 
stockholders  of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  Company  in  his 
efforts  in  this  behalf.  Finally,  he  urges-the  importance  of  hai-monidua 
and  united  action  of  Telegraph  Companies  in, the  Conrfederate  States 
in  these  times  of  trial  and  danger,  when  the  wants  of  couppanics  and 
individuals  should  be  made  subordinate  to  the  general  and  universal 
desire  to  promote  the  public  good  and  safety. 

From  the  foregoing  statement  of  Dr.  Morris,  and  the  General  Su- 
perintendent, Mr.  Dowell,  it  would  seem  that  these  gentlemen,  with 
Mr.  Wynne,  have  already  accomplished  much  that  was  intended  to 
have  been  done  by  your  meeting.  The  management  of  your  company 
is  in  Southern  hands,  the  property  has  been  made  secure  to  Southern 
stockh<dders,  the  proceeds  are  kept  in  the  South  in  the  hands  of  a 
Southern  Treasurer,  and  no  longer  remitted  to  a  Northern  Treasurer; 


I  25 

and  the  line  is  effectually  worked  in  accordmce  with  the  views  and 
wishes  of  the  Confederate  authorities. 

Dr.  Morris  has  been  unknown  to  your  committee  up  to  this  tirne  ; 
but  he  possesses  great  telegraphic  experience,  and  he  has  letters  fiom 
par'ies  and  to  parties  of  high  character  and  respectability,  and  he  has 
exhibited  other  evidences  equally  strong  of  his  claims  to  their  con- 
fidence. 

Mr  Dowel'^  has  been  many  jears  General  Superintendent  of  the 
lines  of  teh?graph  South  ami  Scuth- West  of  Washington,  and"has  the 
raputation  of  being  an  active  and  effit-ient.officer. 

Mr  Wynne  is  known  to  many  of  our  citizens  as  a  gentleman  of 
high  character  and  respectability !^  They  arc  all  Virginians  by  birth, 
and  your  committee  have  everv  confidence  that  they  wi'l  not  abuse, 
but  faitlifiilly  discharge  the  trusts  which  ttiey  liave  assumed.  Never- 
theless, your  committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  comp;my  should  re- 
sumo  tlie  management  of  its  own  aflairs.  The  gentlemen  now  having 
it  i.i  charge  appear  to  regard  themselves  as  representing,  to  some 
extent,  tlie  ''American  Tele<2;raph  Company"  as  well  as  the  lines 
SouiJi,  and  one  of  them,  the  General  Superintendent,  holds  his  place 
un<ler  the  appointment  of  that  compaiiy,  when  the  war  by  common 
opinion  is  regarded  as  having  put  an  end  to  the  lease  which  alone 
gave  it  C(mtrol  in  the  management  of  the  Southern  lines.  HowevT, 
satisfied,  therefore,  as  your  committee  are,  with  the  course  taken  by 
them  in  the  emergency  wiiich  ^-xisted  to  secure  the  Southern  lines 
from  Northern  control,  and  of  the  confidence  that  may  J^e  reposed  in 
them,  they  are  of  opinion  that  these  gentlemen  should  hold  their 
places  as  officers  of  the  Southern  Companies  exclusively,  and  bo  re- 
spon^ihh^  to  them  only.  Many  stockholders  are  not  willing  now  to 
receive  their  dividends  as  they  have  usually  «lone,  because  they  ap- 
prehend that  by  so  doin_g  they  may  commit  themselves. txj  the  recogni- 
tion of  the  continued  existence  of  a  lease  which  they  regard  as  having 
terminated.  It  is  manifest,  also,  that  if  the  lease  has  ceased  to  exist, 
or  if  it  is  suspended  only  by  the  war,  the  company  should  return  to 
the  roquiremtnts  of  the  charter,  to  have  its  annual  meetings  and  elec- 
tions of  officers,  who  shall  report  anr.ually  on  the  business  and  condi- 
tion of  the  company,  and  that  its  funds,  wliich  have  been  or  may  be 
received,  shall  be  i^i  the  hands  of  its  own  appointed  officers,  to  be  ap- 
poinrevl  and  u.sed  as  may  be  judged  best  by  the  company. 

^uur  committee  are  inforriied,  that  the  receipts  of  the  Washington 
and  New  Orleans  and  the  South-Western  lines  are  kept  in  bank  in 
mass  This  they  consider  objectionable,  as  some  after  confusion  may 
be  the  consequence.  The  reasons  assigned  by  Dr.  Morris,  howo-ver, 
.are  entitled  to  much  weight  in  the  present  political  condition  of  the 
country,  and  as  he  says,  that  ''the  accounts  are  so  kbpt  that  it  will 
be  easy  to  make  a  settlement  hereafter,  as  now,  as  soon  as  the  princi- 
ples of  apportionment  are  settled,"  much  of  the  objection  to  the  min- 
gling of  the  receipts  of  the  several  companies  at  this  time  is  removed. 
You"  committee  are  of  opinion,  at  the  same  time,  that  the  mode  of 
keeping  the  deposits  in  the  banks,  in  the  several  cities  where  deposits 
arc  made,  should  be  in  some  way  changed.     They  are  now  kept  in  th-3 


26 

name  of  '*  Thomas  H.  Wynne,  Tier.surer  of  the  Southern  Telegraph 
Companres."  Dr.  Morris  and  Mr.  Wynne  explained  their  reasons  for 
so  doing.  The  moneys  received  on  account  of  several  companies  can- 
not be  kept  in  the  name  of  any  one  of  them,  but  it  seems  to  your 
committee  that  in  case  of  the  death  cf  the  treasurer,  di:h;culties  might 
arise  in  the  appointment  of  his  successor,  and  consequent  embarrass- 
ment and  delay  in  commanding  the  funds  on  deposit  in  banks. 

The  Washington  and  New  Orleans  Company,  can  appoint  only  its 
own  Treasurer,  in  its  own  name,  and  so  with  the  other  companies 
interested,  and  unless  there.be  some  understanding  among  them,  Uy 
which  a  general  Treasurer  can  be  appointed  under  the  same  caption, 
the  banks  might  not  feel  themselves  at  liberty  to  pay  the  checks  drawn 
without  some  legal  sanoJtion  or  guarantee. 

Your  committee  have  already  referred  to  the  character  of  the  gen- 
tlemen in  charge  of  the  company  There  cxists-no  reason  to  question 
their  motives  or  their  integrity.  Mr.  Dowell  is  entitled  to  the  thanks 
of  the  stockholders,  for  the  early  move  made  by  him  to  rescue  their 
funds  and  the  control  of  the  Con  pa ny  from  Northern  hands,  and  they 
are  indebted  also  to  Dr.  Morris  and  Mr.  Wynne,  for  the  prompt  aid 
rendered  by  them  to  Mr.  Dowell  in  the  emergency  which  existed; 
still  the  positions  held  by  these  gentlemen,  cannot  bo  satisfactory 
either  to  them  or  to' this  Company. 

•  Mr.  Wynne  holds  the  place  of  Auditor  and  Treasurer,  at  the  request 
of,  and  by  the  appointment  of  Dr.  Morris — and  Dr.  Moi-ris  hobis  the 
place  of  President,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Dowell,  an  officer  appointed 
not  by.  any  of  the  Southern  Companies,  but  by  the  American  Tele- 
graph Company.  Mr.  Wynne's  salary  is  fixed  by  agreement  with  Dr. 
Morris  at  $1600,  with  a  clerk  at  $600;  but  Mr. 'Wynne  says  he  does 
not  feel  free  to  draw  any  of  it  until  the  authority  is  more  deliniie, 
while  Dr.  Mc|^is  is  without  a  salary,  and  can  receive  none  unless-  he 
fixes  it  for  himself. 

To  correct  so  anomalous  a  condition  of  things,  the  company  should 
resume  the  management  of  its  affairs,  and  for  that  purpose  your  com- 
mittee recommend  that  there  should  be  an  early.meeting  of  the  stock- 
holders at  some  central  point — Mr.  -  ynne  correctly  says,  '•  Although 
the  present  mode  of  organization  affords  no  ground  of  objection  among 
our  Southern  friends,  yet  it  is  evident  that  no  fjjan  of  government 
can  be  properly  authorized  which  has  not  the  sanction  of  the  stock- 
holders ;  and  he  adds,  that  the  meeting  of  which  you  speak  as  necf  s- 
sary,  I  think  is  indispensible." 

It  should  be  clearly  understood  that  there  is  not  the  smallest  dispo- 
sition to  produce  differences  between  this  and  other  Southern  Lines  ; 
on  the  contrary,  measures  should  be  taken  at  the  proposed  meeting,  to 
invite  the  co-operation  and  views  of  other  Southern  and  South- Western 
Companies,  so  as  to  maintain  the  good  understandiiig  and  harmony 
that  now  so  happily  fxists  among  them. 

(Signed,)  H.  Gourdin, 

Cu\.  Macbeth y  Mayor. 
.<?  L.  D.  MowRY. 


27  , 

Mr.  Henry  Goiirdin  offered  the  following  resolutions,  which  being 
eeco-ided,  were  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  the  report  of  the  committee  be  accepted,  and  that  to 
carry  out  the'^commeiidntions  contained  in  it,  the  shareholders  of 
the  Company  ^  the  Confederate  States  be  requested  to  meet  on  the 
27th  day  of  August  next,  in  the  City  of  Augusta,  and  that  notice  of 
the  same  be  published  in  such  journals  in  this  and  other  States  as  the 
committee  ma^deem  expedient. 

Resolved,  1  hat  the  chairman  of  this  meeting  be  requested  to  appoint 
two  gentlemen  to  repre.sent  the  shareholders  of  this  City  and  State  at 
the  proposed  meeting,  to  whom  proxies  may  be  sent. 

Rrsolved,  That  Dr.  Dowell,  Dr.  \V.  S.  .vlorris  and  Mr.  Thomas  11. 
Wynne,  are  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  this  Company  for  their  prompt 
conduct  in  rescuing  the  management  of  the  Company  and  its  funds 
from  ISforthern  control  under  the  circumstances  as'  stated  by  ihem, 
and  that  the  same  be  ten  iered  to  them  as  an  expression  of  the  approval 
of  their  conduct  by  this  meeting. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  thes§  proceedings  be  sent  to  Dr.  Morris, 
Mr.  Dowell  and  Mr.  Wynne,  with  a  request  that  they  will  attend  the 
proposed  meeting  of  stockholders,  with  full  reports  of  the  condition 
and  business  of  the  Company  for  the  information  of  stockholders. 

The  chair  under  the  second  resolution,  appointed  Messrs.  Henry 
Gourdin  and  L.  D.  Mowry,  as  delegates  to  the  meeting  to  be  held  at 
Augusta.  , 

On  moti  jn,  the  report  and  proceedings  were  ordered  to  be  published, 
and  the  meeting  then  adjourned.  - 

Charles  Macbktii,  Chairman. 

L.  D.  Mowry,  Scaetnry, 

From  the  foregoing  proceedings  it  will  be  seen  that^fcs  meeting  of 
the  stockholders  of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  ^Pinpany,  hear- 
tily approved  of  the  course  pursued  by  myself  and  Mr.  Dowell,  and 
recommended  a  general  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Company, 
to  be  held  on  the  27th  of  August,  1861,  at  Augusta. 

On  the  23rd  of  A^ugust,  1861,  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the 
American  Telegraph  Company  residing  in  the  (confederate  States,  waa 
held  at  Richmond,  and  at  this  meeting,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
examine  the  reports  of  William  S.  Morris,  J.  R.  Dowell,  Superinten- 
dent, and  Thomas  11.  Wynne,  Treasurer,  and  report  for  the  consider- 
ation of  the  meeting,  such  resolutions  as  should  in  their  opinion  be 
adopted. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  the  same  dav,  the  committee  appointed 
to  examine  and  report  to  this  meeting  upon  the  reports  of  the  Presi- 
dent, Superintendent  and  Treasurer,  presented  and  read  the  following 
preamble  and  resolutions,  which  were  adopted 

Whereas,  the  altered  relations  between  the  States  comprising  the 
late  United  States  of  America,  arising  from  the  existence  of  war 
among  them,  make  it  proper  that  the  stockholders  of  the  Amer  can 
Telegraph  Company,  residing  in  the  Confederate  States,  should  con- 
vene a^id  take  action  together,  upon  their  affairs,  and  maintain  their 


28 

rights,  find  discharge  their  duties,  as  the  same  are  effected  by  the  legal 
consequences  of  such  ^var. 

1st.  Re:olv"d,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  it  is  the  dut^^  of 
the  stockholders  of  said  Company,  residing  in  the  Confederate  States, 
to  take  immediate  possession,  and  complete  control  of  the  Lines  of 
Telegraph  located  inlaid  States,  recently  owned  by  or  leased  to  tho 
said  Company,  and  to  supervise  and  manage  the  same  so  as  to  promoto 
the  public  safety  of  the  South,  and  protect  tlicir  individual  and  .social 
intt-rests. 

2 ad.  That  in  thus  assuming  the  entire  control  of  tho  property  and 
riglits,  recently  shared  and  managed  by  their  associates  in  the  Ameri- 
can Telegraph  Company,  the  stockholders  comprising  this  meeting, 
repre-etxting.  as  they  do,  nearly  every  share  of  stock  held  by  Southern 
Btockhidders  in  the  American  Telegraph  Company,  deem  it  but  just  to 
all  parties  residing  in  -he  Confederate  States,  with  whom  the  said 
Company  have  contracts  of  any  kind,  to  declare  their  willingness  and 
purpose  in  good  faith,  to  comply  with  all  such  contracts  on  their  part, 
and  that  they  will  expect  all  such  pajrties,  in  like  manner  to  comply* 
with  all  such  contracts  on  their  part. 

3d.  That,  in  assuming  the  position  indicated  in  the  first  resolution, 
the  stockholders  composing  this  meeting,  disclaim  ail  v/ish  or  intention 
to  manage  the  affairs  of  this  Company  so  -as  to  deprive  any  o.ie,  their 
late  associates  included,  of  any  of  their  legal  rights'*^in  the  premises, 
but  they  assume  the'control  and  management  raentjoned,  impelled  by 
a  sense  of  duty  to  the  public  and  themselves. 

4th.  That  we  approve  of  the  management  of  the  Southern  Telen;raph. 
Lines  as  set  forth  in  the  report  of  Dr.  Morris,  and  Messrs.  Wynne 
and  Dowell,  and  that  the  thanks  of  the  stockholders  are  due  to  these 
gentlemen,  for  the  fidelity  with  which  they  have  discharged  their  res- 
pective dutieij^ 

oth.  That  Ira  executive  committee  composed  of  three  stockholders, 
of  whom  the  President  elected  by  this  meeting  shall  ex  officio  be  one, 
be  appointed,  who  shall  manage  the  affairs  of  the  Southern  Lines  of 
Telegraph,  recently  held  or  leased  by  the  Ameiican  Telegraph  Com- 
pany in  the  Southern  States.  That  said  committee  have  full  authority 
in  the  recess  between  this  time  and  the  next  meeting  of  the  stock- 
holders, to  represent  in  all  things,  and  protect  tho  interest  of  the  said 
stockholders,  and  that  the  recommendations  contained  in  the  reports 
of  Dr.  Morris  and  Mr.  Dowell,  be  referred  to  said  committee  for  their 
consideration  and  action. 

6th.  That  a  dividend  of  six  per  cent,  is  Iiereby  declared,  that  is, 
three  per  cent,  as  of  the  first  of  IMay  last,  and  three  per  cent,  as  of 
the  first  of  August  inst  ,  which  the  Treasurer  is  directed  to  pay  on 
the  first  of  September  next  to  the  stockholders  of  the  American  Tele- 
graph Company,  residing  in  the  Confederate  States,  as  they  appear 
on  the  list  given  on  the  30th  May  last  by  tho  secretary  of  said  com- 
pany. 

7th.  That  Wm.  S.  Morris  is  hereby  appointed  president  of  this 
company,  and  that  his  salary  shall  be  five  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 
That  Thos.  H.  Wynne  is  hereby  appointed  treasurer,  and  tl^at  his 
salary  shall  be  fifteen  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 


29 

8tli.   That  diaries  Sc^tt  and  Robert  W.  Crensliaw  are   hereby  ap- 
pointed members  of  the  executive  committee  provided  for  in  the  fifth 
•resolution. 

9th.  That  the  reports  of  the  president,  treasurer,  and  general 
superintendent  be  spread  upon  the  record  of  this  meeting,  and  filed 
among  the  papers  of  the  company. 

lOth.  That  when  this  meeting  adjourn  it  adjourn  to  meet  at  Rich- 
mond on  the  20th  day  of  September  next,  unless  sooner  convened  by 
the  Executive  Committee. 

On  motion  the  meeting  adjourned. 

Cii.vs.   Scott,   Chairman, 

R.   W.   Crknshaw,  Secretary. 

On   the   27th  day  of  August,  a  meeting  of  the   stockholders  of  the 
^^ashington  and  New  Orleans  Company  was  held  in  Augusta,  a  ma- 
jority of  Southern  stock  being  represented.     Upon  motion  of  R.  R. 
Cu\ler,  E?q.,  Elam  Alexander,  Esq.,  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Mr. 
•  J.  C.  Butler  requested  to  act  as  secretary. 

The  ch  lirman  briefly  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting. 

Thomas  II.  Wynne,  acting  treasurer  of  the  company  in  crnnection 
with  other  Southern  lines,  made  a  verbal  statement  of  the  financial 
condition  of  the  company,  which  was  received  as  information. 

Dr.  Wm.  S.  Morris,  acting  president,  explained  his  connection  with 
the  company,  as  set  forth  in  the  report  of  the  committee  at  the  meet- 
ing of  stockholders  in  Charleston,  and  afrer  a  detailed  stitcment  of 
the  operations  of  the  line,  and  the  condition  of  the  property,  he  read 
the  following  copy  of  resolutions  which  had  been  adopted  ;jt  a  meeting 
of  the  stockholders  of  the  American  Telegraph  Company  in  the  Con- 
federate States,  at  Richmond,  Ya.,  on  the  23d  inst.,  viz.  :  [See  p.o- 
ceedings  of  the  stockholders  of  the  American  Telegraph  Company 
residing  in  the  Confederate  States,  at  their  meeting  held  in  Richmond 
on  the  23d  August,  pp.  19,  20  and  21.] 

The  following  resolutions  were  then  oftored  by  R.  R.  Cuyler,  Esq.y 
and  unanimously  passed. 

1st.  Resolved,  That  this  meeting  cannot  in  any  v.ay  acquiesce  in 
the  action  and  resolutions  of  Southern  stockholders  in  the  American 
Telegraph  Company  as  shown  in  their  action  at  Richmond  on  the  23d 
instant.' 

2nd.  Resolved,  That  the  stockholders  of  the  Washington  and  New 
Orleans  company  have  a  sincere  desire,  if  possible,  to  harmonize  the 
interests  of  all  tlie  lines  of  telegraph  within  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

3d.  Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three,  to  be  named  by  the  Chair, 
be  appointed  at  his  leisure  to  confer  with  the  stockholders  of  the 
American  Telegraph  Company,  in  Richmond,  on  the  20th  proximo, 
and  with  all  others  interested,  with  a  view  to  the  amalgamation  of  all 
the  lines  in  the  Confederate  States,  provided  such  amalgamation  can 
be  consummated  during  a  period  not  exceeding  two  years  from  the 
date  of  agreement. 

Wm.  B.  Johnson,  Esq.,  presented  the  following  resolution  which 
was  adopted  : 
4 


30 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  W.  S."  Morris,  Mr.  T.  II.  Wynne,  and  Mr.  J.  R. 
Dowell,  in  rescuing  the  management  of  the  Washington  and  New  Or- 
leans company  from  Northern  control,  are  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  ♦ 
this  meeting,  and  that  a  copy  of  this  resolution  be  sent  to  each  of 
them,  as  an  expression  of  the  approval  of  the  meeting,  and  its  confi- 
dence in  them. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  such  time  as  the  committee  at  Rich-, 
mond  shall  be  rearly  to  report — they  being  authorized  to  give  notice  of 
the  same. 

Elam  Alexander,   Chairman. 

J.   C.  Butler,  Secretary. 

It  will  be  seen  that  tliis  meeting  authorized  the  appointment  of  a 
committee  of  three,  to  coiifer  with  the  stockholders  of  the  American 
Telegraph  Company  in  Richmond,  on  the  20th  of  September. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the  American  Telegraph  Com- 
pany, residing  in  the  Confederate  States,  held   pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment, on  the  20th  of  September,  1361,  at  the  American  hotel  in  the   • 
city  of  Richmond. 

On  motion,  John  M.  Speed  was  elected  chairman,  and  R.  W.  Cren- 
bhaw,  secretary. 

Dr.  Morris  reported  to  the  meeting  the  proceedings  of  the  stock- 
holders of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  Telegraph  Company, 
had  at  a  meeting  of  that  company  held  in  the  city  of  Augusta, 
Georgia,  on  the  27th  day  of  August,  1861,  and  on  his  motion,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  two  be  appointed,  to  confer  with  the 
committee  appointed  by  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  Telegraph 
company,  at  their  ir.eeting  held  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  on  the  27th  of 
August,  1861,  which  committee  is  now  in  this  city,  and  report  to  this 
liieeting. 

Mesr^rs.  R.  W.  Crenshaw  and  Thos.  II.  Wynne  were  appointed  by 
the  chair,  and,  on  motion,  the  chairman  of  the  meeting  was  added  to 
the  committee. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  until  8  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  2l3t,  in 
order  to  afford  time  and  apportunity  for  conference  of  the  committees. 

At  a  meeting  held  pursuant  to  adjournmen!;,  at  8  o'clock,  P.  M. 
September  2 1st,  1861,  John  M.  Speed  presiding,  the  committee  ap- 
pointed to  confer  with  the  committee  of  the  Washington  an'd  New 
Orleans  stockholders,  made  the  following  report: 

The  committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  representatives  of  the 
Washington  and  New  Orleans  Telegraph  company  report,  that  a  con- 
ference was  held  with  Messrs.  W.  L).  Porter,  il.  Gourdin,  and  L.  D. 
Mowry,  appointed  by  resolution  adopted  at  the  meeting  held  in  Au- 
gusta, Georgia,  on  the  27th  day  of  August,  1861,  and  after  discussing 
various  plans  of  action  for  amalgamating  the  different  companies, 
during  which  time  the  opinions  of  Messrs.  Porter  and  Speed  on  the 
legality  of  the  different  modes  of  action  proposed  were  discussed,  it 
was  finally  decided  that  it  was  inexpedient  at  present  to  take  any 
action  upon  the  subject,  but  it  was  advised  that  the  former  stockholders 
in  the  American   Telegraph   Company,  residing   in  the   Confederate 


31 

States  should  obtain  a  charter  under  the  name  and  title  of  the  *-  Con- 
federated Telegraph  Company,"  in  all  the  States  in  the  Confederac)^ 
and  as  soon  as  practicable  thereafter,  the  stockholders  in  all  the  tele- 
graph'companies  in  these  States,  should  become  stockholders  in  the 
same,  by  transfer  of  stocks  upon  an  equitable  basis. 

(Signed,)  R.   W.  Crenshaw, 

John  M.   Speed, 
Thos.   II.   Wynne. 

On  motion,  the  report  of  the  committee  was  received  and  approved, 
and  it  was 

lifSolvedj  That  Dr.  Morris  and  R.  W.  Crenshaw  be  appointed  a 
committee  to  have  prepared  a  charter  for  the  Confederated  Telegraph 
Company,  and  to  attend  to  the  application  for,  and  obtaining  the  same 
from  the  proper  court  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  and  that  they  bo 
authorized  to  employ  the  necessary  legal  assistance. 

In  pursuance  of  these  instructions  I  have  obtained  a  charter  in  the 
State  of  Virginia,  and  presented  it  for  approval  to  the  stockholders, 
and  the  company  has  been  organized. 

The  stockholders  of  the  "Washington  and  New  Orleans  company^ 
were  notified  to  attend  a  meeting  at  Macon,  on  the  —  day  of  Novem- 
ber, at  which  the  committee  proposed  to  report,  but  i  have  reived  no- 
notice  of  their  having  met. 

I  have  seen  a  publication  in  the  Macon  papers,  of  a  meeting  o-f 
stockholders  of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  Telegraph  Company,., 
purporting  to  have  been  held  at  Macon,  on  the  16th  diiy  of  January,. 
1862  :  at  tliis  meeting  it  is  stated,  the  report  of  their  committed)  was- 
presented  but  vot  nad.  How  much  stock  was  represented  in  the  meetw. 
ing,  I  do  not  know.  Several  of  the  largest  stockholders  in  that  Com- 
pany have  informed  me  that  they  had  no  notice  of  the  meeting. 
Neither  the  President  or  Secretary  of  that  meeting  have  furnished 
me  any  statement  of  their  proceedings. 

From  the  foregoing  history  of  proceedings,  had  by  the  stockhold-- 
ers  of  the  American  Telegraph  Company  residing  in  the  Confederate 
States,  and  the  stockholders  of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans 
Com))any,  one  of  the  lines  leased  by  the  American  Company,  it  is 
seen  that  they  have  endorsed  my  conduct  in  all  the  conventions  of 
stockholders  ;  and  they  individually  approved  o^  it  by  receiving  the 
rents,  which  have  been  paid  to  them  punctually  when  due.  I  have 
carried  out  their  suggestion  in  obtaining  a  charter  for  the  purpose  of 
re- organizing  and  consolidating  the  several  Companies,  but  the  un- 
settled state  of  the  country,  has  prevented,  up  to  this  time,  the  com- 
pleti(.n  of  the  plan  proposed  by  the  joint  committees. 

1  deem  it  unnecessary  to  say  anything  in  this  already  too  muck' 
extended  communication  in  relation  to  the  Line  which  the  Govern-- 
ment  ordered  me  to  build  between  Mobile  and  Meredian,  alluded  to  ia: 
General  Bragg's  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  in  December  last,, 
which  I  was  prevented  from  completing  by  the  Directors  of  the  Mo- 
bile and  Ohio  Railroad  Company  obtaining" an  injanction,  and  (jieneral' 
Withers  refusing  to  carry  out  the  instructions  of  the  War  Department. 


32 

Yon  are  familiar  with  all  the  f.icts  in  relation  to  that  subject,  and  I 
trnst  my  course  in  that  behaif  needs  no  vindication. 

General  Bragg  has  appointed  L.  F.  Znntzinger  of  Mobile,  Military 
Supervisor  of  the  Lines  in  Alabama  and  Florida,  and  W.  Tanner, 
Superintendent  of  those  Lines,  and  they  refuse  to  recognize  my  au- 
thority, or  to  allow  the  officers  I  have  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
aifairs,  and  the  monies  are  kept  by  these  appointees  of  his. 

Mobile  is  now  a  terminal  oihce  of  the  lines,  and  the  recepts  are 
large,  as  messages  intended  for  all  points  on  the  lines  West  and 
North  are  received  there.  If  the  funds  are  allowed  to  be  kept  by  L. 
F.  Zantzinger,  who  is  now  in  arrears  in  his  accounts  up  to  the  first 
day  of  March,  $1,164,  and  is  not  responsible  to  any  one,  the  finances 
will  soon  be  in  such  condition  as  to  make  it  impossible  to  pay  to  the 
leased  lines  their  rents,  or  to  defray  the  expenses  of  operating  the 
lines,  and  chaos,  confusion  and  inefficiency,  will  result.  Since  the 
commencement  of  this  revolution,  although  all  the  supplies  necessary 
to  carry  on  the  o aerations  of  the  lines  have  advanced  several  hundred 
sper  cent.,  and  in  some  instances  several  thousand  per  cent.,  and  the 
salaries  of  all  employees  have  had  to  be  advanced,  to  meet  tlie  greatly 
'increased  cost  of  living,  I  have  up  to  this  time  made  no  change  in  the 
-tariff  of  rates  on  the  lines,  and  have  tried  earnestly  to  make  tho 
telegraph  usefuf  and  efficient  to  the  Government  and  the  public.  I 
have,  up  to  this  time,  succeeded  m  paying  to  the  stockholders  of  tho 
leased  Lines  their  rents,  and  to  the  stockholders  of  the  American 
Telegraph  Company  residing  in  the  Confederate  States,  their  dividends  ; 
but  this  I  cannot  expect  to  do,  if  irresponsible  parties,  by  virtue  of 
authority  derived  from  General  Bragg,  who,  for  Avhat  reason  I  know 
not,  Btvles,  and  those  connected  with  me,  a  "  Yankee  concern,"  takes 
military  possession  of  all  the  lines  in  Alabama  and  Florida,  and 
orders  our  lines  to  be  taken  down,  and  materials  used  to  build  others. 

Our  only  remedy  is  with  the  Government,  which,  up  to  this  time, 
has  treated  me  and  the  interests  I  represent  with  fairness  and  justice, 
and  in  thcii*  decision  I  confide,  in  the  belief  that  you  will  do  whatever 
you  lawfully  may,  to  protect  the  rights  and  property  of  all  Telegraph 
Companies  acting  subordinately  to,  and  in  good  faith  towards  the 
Confederate  States. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

WLLLIAM  S.  MORRIS, 
President  Southern  Tclegrnph  Cuinpanics. 


THE  SOUTHERN  TELEGAPH. 

In  1S47-8,  charters  were  obtained  from  several  of  the  Southern 
States  for  the  construction  of  a  line  of  telegraph  from  Washington 
city  to  New  Orleans.  Delegations  from  these  several  corporations 
subsequently  met  at  Washington  and  organized  a  company,  and  tho 
Decessary  steps  wers  taken  to  effect  the  object  of  their  organization. 
An  arrangement  was  entered  into  with  S.  F.  B.  Morse,  Amos  Ken- 
dall, and  F.  0.  J.  Smith,  patentees  of  the  Morse  telegraph,  for  the 
use  of  their  instruments,  in  consiileration  of  which  an  amount  of  stock 
equal  to  the  cost  of  construjction  was  issued  to  them,  thus  giving  them 
a  moiety  of  interest  in  the  earnings  of  the  line.  The  number  of 
shares  were  1  I,l3;i,  of  which  the  patentees  held  5,565. 

Daniel  Griffin,  of  Georgia,  was  the  first  president,  Elam  Abxander, 
of  Georgia,  second,  and  Smith  Mowry,  of  South  Carolina,  third. 

During  these  three  years  the  line  was  unprofitable,  owing  to  imper- 
fections of  construction,  etc.,  but  towards  the  close  the  difficulties 
were  surmounted,  and  the  line  began  to  pay  a  dividend. 

At  the  fourth  annual  meating  tte  representatives  of  the  patentees 
cast  their  entire  vote,  being  a  moiety  of  the  whole,  for  Amos  Kendall, 
as  president,  and,  as  some  of  the  individual  stock  was  unrepresented, 
he  was,  of  course,  el  cted.  Much  dissatisfaction  was  felt  and  ex- 
pressed by  the  stockholders  at  this  action  of  the  patentees,  and  it  was 
denounced  as  a  breach  of  faith  ;  as,  at  the  origin  of  th^  company,  it 
was  sai<l  to  have  been  expressly  un'lerstood  that  the  management  of 
the  line  was  to  rest  in  the  stockholders,  while  the  earnings  were  to  bo 
equally  divided  with  the  patentees.  Mr.  Kendall  was  elected  several 
times,  appointing,  in  the  meantime,  his  nephew  and  sons  as  treasurer, 
BupeiiiUendent,  etc.  It  is  alleged  that  during  his  administration 
there  were  changes  of  operators  made  at  vaiious  stations  by  which 
Northern  men  were  substituted  for  Southern,  without  apparent  cause. 

About  this  time  the  *' House"  and  '*  0  Kiley  "  lines  of  telegraph 
were  in  active  rivalry  and  competition  with  the  Kendall  and  Morse 
line  on  the  routes  running  from  v.  ashington  to  the  Northern  cities. 
Disputes  and  collisions  frequently  occurred,  litigation  followeil,  accom- 
panied by  much  trouble  and  expense.  This  Avas  terminated  by  the 
uni  )n  of  the  r  val  interests  in  what  was  d^'uominated  the  "  Magtietio 
Telegraph  Company,"  of  which  Mr.  Sanford,  of  New  York,Avas  m  ide 
president,  and  John  E.  Kendall,  (son  of  Amos,)  general  superintend- 
ent. At  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  Washington  and  New  Or- 
leans company,  it  was  determined  to  lease  the  line  to  ihe  Magnetio^ 
Telegraph  Company.  The  latter  company  stipulating  to  pay  the- 
stockholders  of  the  former  six  per  cent,   per  annum,  on  their  invest- 

0 


34 

ments.     In  18.59,  tlic  Magnetic  Teleg  aph   Company  was  merged  in 
the  American  Telegraph  Company,  to  which  the  lease  was  transferred. 

This  arriingement  continued  until  April,  1861,  when  the  Lincoln 
government  destroyed  the  telegraph  lines  between  Washington  and 
Alexandria.  Two  days  afterwards  it  was  announced  in  the  Richmond 
papers  that  a  separation  of  the  Northern  and  Soutliern  telegraph*  lines 
had  tak:n  place,  and  that  Dr.  Morris  was  elected  president,  and  Mr. 
Dowell  superintendent,  of  the  Southern  line.  No  information  Avas 
given  when,  where,  and  by  whom,  the  election  was  made,  or  by  what 
authority  the  lines  were  declared  to  be  separated.  Certainly  there 
■was  no  meeting,  or  conference,  or  consultation  of  the  Southern  stock- 
holders. Dr.  Morris  did  not  own  one  dollar's  worth  of  stock  in  the 
Southern  line,  nor  is  it  believed  did  Mr.  Dowell.  The  latter  was  for 
years  a  favorite  superintendent  of  Amos  Kendall,  and  it  was  immedi- 
ately after  his  arrival  from  Washington,  that  the  new  organization  was 
announced  to  the  public. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  about  the  time  this  separation  was  an- 
nounced that  the  Lincoln  government  were  loud  in  their  threats  of 
sequestrating  Southern  property,  and  in  some  instances  carried  them 
into  effect.  The  Northern  holders  of  property  in  the  Southern  States, 
apprehensive  of  retaliatory  measures,  endeavored  to  protect  ihemselves 
by  putting  such  property  under  the  control,  nominally,  of  persons  re- 
siding in  the  South  Thus  the  Adams  Express  Company,  of  which 
Mr.  Sanford  is  Vice  President,  and  the  actual  manager,  v/as  at  once 
announced  to  be  divided  into  a  Northern  and  Southern  Company  ; 
though  if  an  investigation  is  had,  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that 
the  stock  will  be  found  to  be  owned  by  the  old  holders,  though  a  por- 
tion of  it  may  be  nominally  transferred  to  enable  certain  gentlemen 
in  the  South  to  act  as  directors.  Mr.  Sanford  is  also  president  of  the 
American  Telegraph  Company,  and  the  same,  remedy  probably  sug- 
gested itself 'to  him  to  meet  the  difficulty  in  both  cases. 

In  July,  1861,  a  meeting  of  the  Charleston  stockholders  was  held 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  measures  for  the  re-organization  of  the 
Washington  and  New  Orleans  Telegraph  Company.  A  committee 
was  appointed,  who  reported  at  a  subsequent  meeting  that  they  had 
been  waited  on  by  Dr.  Morris  and  Mr.  Dowell,  who  represented  to 
them  that  their  action,  in  assuming  the  control  of  the  line,  was 
prompted  by  a  regard  for  the  interest  of  the  stockholders,  and  it  was 
their  determination  to  pay  out  of  the  earnings  of  the  line  six  per  cent, 
annually  to  the  stockhohJers,  and  the  surplus,  if  any,  to  be  given  those 
who  n»ay  be  legally  declared  to  be  entitled  to  it.  The  meeting  de- 
'Clined  to  take  ai  y  action  on  the  propositions  of  Messrs.  Morris  and 
Dowell,  and  appointed  delegates  to  a  general  meeting  of  the  stock- 
■holders  of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  Telegraph  Compiiny,  to 
^beheld  Sit  Augusta  on  the  27th  of  August,  1861.  This  was  duly 
'held ;  a^  majority  of  the  Southern  stock  being  represented.  Elam 
Alexander,  of  Macon,  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Mr.  J.  C.  Butler 
acted  as  secretary.  Dr.  Morris,  the  acting  president,  was  present, 
and  after  a  detailed  statement  of  the  operations  of  the  line,  and  the 
•  condition  of  the  property,  he  read  a  series  of  resolutions  which  had 
0 


beon  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  the  stockholder?  of  the  American  T<;'lo- 
grnph  Company,  resident  in  the  Confederate  States,  v,hich  w:is  held  at 
Richmond,  Virginia,  on  the  i23d  of  Julv,  1861.  These  resolutions 
were  to  the  fallowing  points  :  That  the  stockholders  of  the  American 
Telegraph  Company  residing  in  these  States,  take  possession  and  con- 
trol of  its  lines  located  therein,  and  manngo  them  for  the  benefit  of 
8uch  stockholders  exclusively.  That,  in  thus  assuming  the  control  of 
the  property  and  rights  recently  shared  and  managed  by  their  associ- 
ates in  the  American  Telegraph  Company,  the  stockholders  composing 
the  Richmond  meeting,  representing  nearly  every  share  of  stock  held 
by  Southern  stockholders  in  ihe  American  Telegraph  Com^pany,  con- 
sidered it  but  just  to  all  parties  residing  in  the  Confederate  States, 
with  whom  the  said  parties  have  contracts  of  any  kind,  to  declare 
their  willingness  and  purpose,  in  good  faith,  to  com.ply  with  all  such 
contracts  on  their  part,  expecting  such  parties,  in  like  manner,  to 
comply  with  all  such  contracts  on  their  part,  and  that,  assum'ing  the 
position  indicated  in  their  resolutions,  the  stockholders  compo;dng  the 
meeting  disclaimed  all  wish  or  intention  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the 
company,  so  as  to  deprive  any  one,  their  late  associates  (the  Northern 
stockholders  of  the  company*^included,)  of  any  of  their  legal  rights  in 
the  premises,  but  assume  the  control  and  management  mentioned,  im- 
pelled by  a  sense  of  duty  to  the  public  and  themselves. 

The  Richmond  meeting  alluded,  to  then  proceeded  to  elect  Dr.  Mor- 
ris, President  of  the  company,  at  a  salary  of  $.5,(M»;)  per  annum,  and 
Mr.  Wynne,  the  Treasurer,  at  a  salary  of  $\o'M)  per  annum.  They 
declared  a  dividend,  and  took  measures  for  carrying  into  execution 
the  plan  proposed.  Having  done  which,  they  adjourned  to  meet  in 
Richmond  on  the  20th  of  August,  18Ij1. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  the  American  Telegraph  Company  was  a 
Northern  incorporation,- having  no  legal  right  in  the  Confederate 
States,  nor  could  its  individual  stockholders  residing  in  the  Confede- 
rate States,  assume  to  themselves  rights  or  powers  which  could  not  be 
exercised  by  the  original  company.  The  action  of  the  Richmond 
meeting  will  appear  the  more  preposterous  and  absurd,  when  it  is 
known  that  the  persons  present  represented  only  619  shares  out  of  the 
many  thousands  which  comprise  the  American  Telegraph  Company. 

The  meeting  at  Augusta  unanimously  adopted  resolutions  declin- 
ing to  acquiesce  in  the  action  of  the  Richmond  meeting.  <leclaring, 
that  the  stockholders  of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  Company 
have  a  sincere  desire,  if  possihle,*to  harmonise  the  interest  of  all  the 
lines  of  telegraph  within  the  Southern  Confederacy,  and  appointing. 
a  committee  of  all  the  lines  of  telegraph  within  the  Southern  Con- 
feederacy,  and  appointing  a  committee  of  three  to  confer  with  the- 
stockholders  of  the  American  Telegraph  Company  in  Richmond,  on 
the  2nt.h  September,  1862,  and  with  all  others  interested,  with  a  view 
to  the  amalgamation  of  all  the  lines  in  the  Confederate  States  ;  pro- 
vided, such  amalgamation  can  be  consummated  during  a  period  not 
exceeding  two  years  from  the  date  of  agreement. 

A  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Gourdin,  Porter  and  Mowry, 
were  appointed  for  this  purpose,  and  had  several  conferences  with  the 


36 

gentlemen  in  Richmond,  purporting  to  represent  the  Southern  stock- 
holders of  the  American  Telegraph  Company,  but  failed  in  coming  to 
any  agreement,  the  pretensions  of  the  latter  being  deemed  utterly  in- 
admissible by  the  former.  Indeed,  had  tliey  harmonized  in  their  views, 
it  is  difficult  to  perceive  how  any  legril  a<ljustment  could  have  been 
effected  by  the  parties,  as  neither  of  them  had  the  authority  necessary 
for  that  purpose.  The  Richmond  gentlemen  repr(sent  but  an  incon- 
siderable fraction  (6i9  shares)  of  the  American  Telegraph  Company, 
a  Northern  incorporation  without  legal  existence  in  the  Conf (derate  States, 
and  whose  rights  of  property,  if  any  exists,  are  properly  the  subjects 
of  the  sequestration  act.  On  the  oiher  hand,  the  Augusta  conven- 
tion of  the  l^'outhcrn  stockholders  of  the  Washington  and  New  Or- 
leans Telegraph  Company,  represented  only  a  minority  of  the  capital 
etock,  not  more  than  two-fifths  of  it  being  known  to  be  hold  in  the 
Confederate  States,  the  other  three  fifths  being  owned  by  the  paten- 
tees of  the  telegraph  and  other  Northern  holders,  and  the  action  of 
this  convention,  therefore,  or  of  its  committee,  could  be  neither 
authoritative  or  binding  on  the  company.  A  similar  disability  will 
continue  until  some  action  is  taken  by  the  government,  in  reference 
to  the  stock  held  by  aliens,  under  the  sequestration  act  or  otherwise, 
80  that  it  may  be  represented  in  the  meetings  of  the  company. 

From  the  foregoing  facts,  I  am  led  to  the  following  recapitulations 
and  additions.  The  whole  amount  of  stock  in  the  Washington  and 
New  Orleans  Telegraph  line,  as  originally  oiganized,  i^-,  II, ISO 
shares.  This,  at  §o(i  per  share,  amounts  to  $556,51)0.  Of  this 
amount,  $3,560  shares  were,  on  investigation,  found  to  be  owned  by 
parties  residing  in  the  Confederate  States,  as  reported  by  the  present 
managers  of  the  lines  on  their  assumption  of  the  same.  Subsequently 
the  Hustings  Court  for  the  district  of  Richmond,  Ya.,  decreed  200 
shares  to  Edwin  T.  K.  Culver,  and  William  K.  Culver,  making  an 
aggregate  of  3,760  shares,  owned  in  the  Confederate  States.  This 
Southern  interest,  when  substracted  from  the  whole  amount  of  stock, 
leaves  7,370  shares  ovnied  by  parties  outside  of  the  Confederacy. 
I  speak  or.ly  of   the  Washir»gton  and  New  Orleans  line. 

The  amount  now  owned  in  the  Confederate  States,  in  dollars  and 
cents,  is  $183,000.  Upon  this  (excepting  a  nominal  amount,  i%s  stated 
by  the  present  treasurer,)  the  present  managers  are  paying  six  per 
cent,  lents,  under  the  provisions  of  the  lease  of  the  Washington  and 
New  Orleans  1  nes,  to  the  American  Telegraph  Company,  amounting 
to  $11,280  per  annum.  This,  f4om  January  1st,  180 1,  to  January 
il863.  amounts  to  $22,560,  which,  I  presume,  has  been  paid  to  the 
Southern  stockholders. 

As  above  stated,  tlie  aggregate  amount  of  stock  held  in  the  Wash- 
ington and  New  Orleans  line,  by  parties  outside  the  Confederacy,  is 
7,370  shares,  amounting  to  $368,500  This,  at  six  per  cent,  per 
annum,  amounts  to  $22,110,  or  $44,220  from  January  1st,  1861,  to 
January  1st,  1863. 

Giving  the  present  officers  of  the  lines  the  benefit  of  their  own 
atatements,  made  in  their  circular  of  July  25th,  1962,  I  find  that  the 
rents  accruing  from  January   1st  to  April   1st,  1861,  were  drawn  by 


37 

the  Northern  Treasurer,  amounting  to  $2,820.  This,  subtracted 
from  the  $44,220,  leaves  $41,4iH)  of  rents  at  six  per  cent,  now  in  the 
hands  of  the  Treasurer,  Mr.  Wynne,  belonging  to  parties  outside  of 
the  Confederacy  ;  all  of  which  sum,  together  with  the  capital  stock, 
is  properly  the   subject  of  sequestration  by  the  Confederate  court. 

But  I  will  assume  a  broader  basis  of  receipts  arising  from  the 
operations  of  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  line,  since  the  seces- 
sion of  Virginia,  and  the  manngementof  the  lines  under  the  existing 
organization,  drawn  from  both  the  written  and  verbal  statements  of 
gentlemen,  some  of  whom  had  been,  and  others  were,  at  the  time, 
connected  with  the  practical  operations  of  the  lines. 

One  of  these  gentlemen,  to  whom  I  have  referred,  stated  to  me  by 
letter,  in  May  last,  that,  *'from  the  best  information  he  had  been  able 
to  get,  the  line  was  paying  some  forty  perlcent.  over  expenses.'  And 
still  another  gentleman  writing  to  me  from  a  distant  point  on' the  same 
subject,  and  about  the  same  time,  said:  *'In  these  time^^  this  line," 
(for  he  was  then  connected  with  it,)  ^'instead  of  paying  six  per  cent. 
to  the  legal  stockholders,  should  yield  twenty  or  twenty-five  per 
cent."  I  will  then  assume  the  lowest  of  these  estimates  to  be  the  fact, 
and  that  the  line  has  been  paying  twenty  per  cent.  <«ividends  from 
April  1st,  18l]l,  to  January  1st,  1863,  a  period  of  21  months,  and  we 
have  the  sum  of  $194,775.  From  this  we  will  deduct  the  sum  total 
of  rents  paid  Southern  stockholders,  and  we  have  the  large  sum  of 
Sl72,215,  now  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Wynne,  the  present  Treasurer,  as 
dividends  accruing  on  stocks  not  represented  by  parties  in  the  Con- 
federate States,  and  which,  under  the  plea  of  assuminfi:  tiie  manage- 
ment of  the  consolidated  lines  for  the  htnefit  of* the  S'Uthern  stock' 
koldfTS  in  the  American  Telegraph  Company,  exclusively,  gives  to  each 
stockholder  of  the  CIO  sluires  represented  in  that  company,  in  the 
Confederate  States,  $378  to  the  si  are,  for  a  period  of  21  months. 
But  assuming  that  six  per  cent,  of  rents  on  the  capital  stock,  amount- 
ing to  $41,400,  is  now  held  by  the  treasurer,  subject  to  the  decision 
of  the  sequestration  court,  and  we  have  the  sum  of  $l3f*,8!5,  to  be 
divided  among  the  619  shares  of  American  stock,  or  a  fraction 
short  of  $212  to  the  share,  for  the  period  of  21  months,  to  say 
nothing  of  dividends  arising  from  the   workings  of  their  own  lines. 

Again,  assuming  the  fact  that  upon  the  secession  of  the  Southern 
States,  and  their  organiz^ition  into  a  ('onfederate  government,  and  the 
declaration  of  war  by  the  government  of  the  United  States,  all  civil 
and  corporate  contracts  existing  between  parties  in  the  two  sections 
were  either  abrogated  by  Confederate  law,  or  were  rendered  so  by 
virtue  of  the  existence  of  the  war  between  the  two  sections.  This 
being  so,  it  follows  that  the  property  in  the  Washington  and  New 
Orleans  lines  of  telegraph  reverted  back  to  its  original  condition  of 
separate  independence,  aijd  the  control  and  management  of  which 
should  have  been  under  its  former  directors,  or  a  new  board  of  direc- 
tors, which  should  have  baen  chosen  by  its  Southern  stockholders  in 
the  early  part  of  the  year  1861. 

Now,  suppose  this  to  have  been  done,  and  the  lines  worked  n  a  con- 
solidated form  as  they  have  been,  and  even  under  the  auspices  of  its 


3S     , 

present  managers,  (for  I  have  no  desire  to  disposses  them  of  its  con- 
trol when  properl}  chosen,)  with  the  iiu  lerst.inding  that  the  stock- 
hoklers  were  to  receive  pr  >  rata  of  the  nett  earnings  of  their  line, 
reserving  the  dividends  of  the  foreign  stocks  as  a  proper  matter  of 
confiscation,  and  its  results  would  have  been  far  more  equitable  to  the 
Southern  stockholders,  who  have  the  highest  moral  and  legal  right  to 
every  advantage  and  benefit  of  the  workings  of  their  own  property. 
Were  this  the  case,  the  Southern  stockholders,  instead  of  recerA'ing  six 
per  cent,  rents,  would  now  be  receiving  20  or  30  per  cent,  per  annum 
divkknds. 

It  was  from  an  assumption  of  the  foregoing  facts,  that  the  stock- 
holders residing  in  the  Confederate  States,  at  a  meeting  held  in 
Augusta,  Ga.,  on  the  9th  of  August,  186  2,  resolved  to  take  such  steps 
as  would,  enable  them-  to  ol^in  control  of  their  property  at  the  shortest 
posi^ible  period,  and  to  this  end  required  the  present  managers  (Messrs. 
Morris,  Wynne  and  Dowell,)  to  keep  a  separate  account  of  the  earn- 
ings and  disbursements  of  their  line  from  the  first  of  September,  1862,  • 
to  the  second  Wednesday  in  January,  1863,  and  to  report  the  same  to 
a  meeting  of  the  stockholders,  ro  be  holden  on  the  aforesaid  second 
Wednesday  of  January,  1863.  in  the  city  of  Augusta,  Ga.  This 
meeting  of  stockholders  was  duly  held,  (Dr.  ^lorris  present,)  and  it 
was  agreed  that  no  decisive  and  definite  action  could  be  had  until  the 
alien  interest  in  said  line  was  sequestrated,  and  the  status  oi  tho  Gov- 
ernment's interest  established  by  the  court,  the  property  taken  posses- 
sion of  by  the  agents  of  the  Government,  or  turned  over  to  the  stock- 
holders residing  in  the  Confederate  States,  thus  enabling  them  to  effect* 
an  organization  under  the  new  dispensation  of  things  with  all  interests 
fairly  represented.  To  this  end  the  meeting  of  stockholders  of  the 
14th  of  January,  1863,  resolved  to  employ  counsel  at  Richmond,  Va., 
to  loiok  after  its  interests,  and  to  urge  the  sequestration  of  the  alien 
stock  in  the  coninany. 

Thus  matters  stand,  and  with  but  a  dim  prospect  of  an  early  action 
upon  the  part  of  the  sequestration  court,  for  the  sequestration  of  the 
alien  interest,  as  1  am  iufoimed,  by  the  Confederate  States  Receiver; 
thus  keeping  the  stockholders,  residing  in  the  Confederate  States,  out 
of  both  the  possession  and  the  earnings  of  their  property,  and  allow- 
ing the  stockholders  in  tie  American  Telegraph  Company,  owning 
only  619  shares,  to  amass  vast  fortunes  at  the  expense  of  the  Southern 
stockholders  in  the  Washington  and  New  Orleans  line.  This  ought 
not  so  to  be,  and  if  the  court  is  not  prepared  to  act  in  the  premises, 
and  that  speedily,  I  would  respectfully  call  the  attention  of  Congress 
to  the  matter,  as  one  on  which  they  should  take  some  immediate 
action. 

I  have  said  there  were  7,570  shares  of  the  Washington  and  New 
Orleans  company's  stock,  owned  by  parties  outside  of  the  Confederacy, 
and,  of  coulee,  owned  by  alien  enemies,  and  subject  to  sequestration. 
I  say  alien  Enemies,  because  Amos  Kendall,  though  residing  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  is  at  war  with  the  Confederate  States,  by  giving 
aid  and  comfort  to  the  enemy  ;  and  hence  not  entitled  to  the  benefits 
of  the  law  exempting  parties  residing  in  the  excepted  States. 


39 

In  the  fall  of  1860,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Btockhoklers  of  the  Ameri- 
can Telegraph  Company,  held  in  the  City  of  Washington,  Mr.  Ken- 
dall represented  in  his  own  right  1,772  shares  of  stock  in  the  Wash- 
ington and  New  Orleans  line,  and  some  six  hundred  shares  by  proxy, 
the  same  belonging  to  his  children  and  grand-children,  making  in  all 
2,373  shares.  Two  hundred  shares  of  this,  however,  has  since  been 
decreed  by  the  Hustings  Court  for  the  City  of  Richmond,  as  hereto- 
fore stated,  to  the  heirs  of  Amos  Kendall,  residing  in  the  Confederate 
States,  leaving  2,172  shares  to  be  deducted  from  the  whole  amount  of 
alien  stock,  and  this  would  leave  5,198  shares  belonging  to  parties 
knovy'n  to  reside  beyond  those  States  exempted  by  the  act  of  seques- 
tration, which  should  be  sequestrated  to  tlie  use  of  the  Government, 
and  Mr.  Kenlall's  stock  turned  over  to  his  heirs  residing  in  the  Con- 
federate States,  in  compliance  of  the  act  of  se(|uestration  passed  Feb- 
ruary, 1862. 


C.   P.   Culver. 


Berzelia,  Ga.,  January  25th,  1863. 


ADDENDA. 

Shares. 
Whole  amount  of  stock  in  the  Washington  and  New  Orlcins 

line,  $11,130 

Value  of  the  same  at  $50  per  shar?,  556,500 

Amount  of  stock  owned  in  the  Confederate  States,  3,760 

Value  of  the  same,  188,000 

Amount  of  xVmos  Kendall's  stock,  and  other  parties  residing 

in  the  Slate  of  Maryland  and  District  of  Columbia,  2.172 

Value  of  the  same,  109,500 

Leaving  5,198  shares  of  foreign  stock  or  §259, 900  to-be  confiscated 
to  the  Confederate  States. 


[No.  5.] 

STATEMENT  in  relation  to  the  Cuban  Telegraph  Company,  incorpo- 
rated by  the  title  of  the  Subinarlne  and  Terrestrial  Telegraph  Company 
by  act  <f  the  Legislature  of  Georgia,  \5ik  F,brvary,  ISdi—ificorpo- 
rated  by  thi  Legislature  of  Florida— sanctioned  by  the  Captain  General 
of  Cuba. 

REPORT  OF  WM.   S.   ROCKWELL,  VICE    PRESIDENT  AND   ACTING    PRESIDENT  Or 
THE  CCBAN  TELEGRAPH  COMPANY. 

Board  of  Directors— G.  C.  Walden,  President— died ;  W.  S.  Reck- 
well,  Vice  President;  Antonio  M.  Mora,  Jose  M.  Mora,  J.  T.  Navar- 
ro, pirectors— elected  by  the  stockholders  25th  April.  1859,  to  serve 
until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified.  The  war  doping 
communication  with  Cuba,  no  election  was  held  in  1861  or  1862. 
Capital  stock  $80(),(){H)— all  owned  by  Spanish  citizens  in  Cuba  ex- 
cepting $10,IH)()  held  by  the  undersigned  and  Edward  Pedelford,  ex- 
ecutors of  C.  C.  Walden,  deceased,  and  $2,5)00  owned  by  the  under- 
signed and  held  in  his  own  right. 

The  earnings  of  the  company  cannot  be  stated,  fur  the  reason  that 
the  portion  of  the  line  in  the  State  of  Florida  was  taken  possession 
of  by  the  military  authority  and  no  returns  have  ever  been  made. 
On  the  line  in  Georgia  the  earnings  have  been  barely  sufficient  to 
keep  up  the  line. 

WM    S.  ROCKWELL, 
Vice-President  and  acting  Fres'dent  Cuba  Telegraph  Co. 


[No.   7.] 

report  of  the  southern  express  company. 

The  Southern  Express  Company,  ^ 

TrtsidenVs  Office,  \ 

Augusta,  Ga.,  Dec'  9,  1862.      ) 

Sir  :  In  reply  to  your  communication  under  date  of  November  22d, 
covering  a  resolution  of  Congress  requiring  information  relative  to 
telegraphic  companies  in  the  Confederate  States,  I  have  the  honor  to 
state  that  this  is  not  a  telegraphic  company. 

This  company  own  and  operate  a  telegraph  for  their  own  and  rail- 
road purposes,  (and  for  the  public  to  such  places  as  are  not  reached 


41 

by  the  Hr.es  of  the  telegraphic  companies,)  extending  along  the  road- 
war  of  the  Charleston  and  South  Carolina  railroads,  between  Colum- 
bia, South  Carolina,  and  Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

**The  amount  of  earnings"  ''since  April  15,  1861,"  to  December 
the  1st,  186  2,  is  eight  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty-eight  dollars 
and  ninety-six  cents,  (as  per  accompanying  statement.) 

Said   earnings  have   been  disposed   of  in  making  up  the  amount  of 
disbursements  required  to  operate  and  maintain  the  telegraph. 
Very  respectfully, 

11.  B.  PLANT, 
President  Southern  Express  Company, 
lion.  John   H.  IIeagan, 

Postmaster  General  C.  S.  A.^  Richmond^  Va. 


[No.  8.1 
rkport  of  the  camden  axnd  kingsville  line. 

Camden,  S.  C,  Nov.  27,  1862. 

Hon.  John  II.  Reagan, 

Postmaster  General : 

Dear  Sir  :  Yours  of  the  22d  instant,  has  just  been  received.  In 
reply,  1  Avould  state  that  the  telegraph  line  from  Camden  to  Kings- 
ville,  thirty-eight  miles,  is  under  my  control  as  operator,  and  I  may 
say  owner.  In  the  summer  of  1859,  the  line  was  built  by  myself 
with  a  voluntary  subscription  on  the  part  of  our  citizens.  It  has 
never  been  incorporated.  It  was  put  up  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  citizens  of  this  community.  It  barely  pay.s  the  expense  of  keep- 
ing it  up.  I  receive  all  that  is  made  by  it.  That,  with  private  con- 
tributions, has  enabled  me  to  keep  it  in  operation.  No  alien  enemy 
has  ever  had  anything  to  do  with  it. 

Very  respectfully,  .        ♦ 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  W,  WITHERSPOON. 


[No.  9.] 

REPORT  OF    L.     F.     ZANTZINGER,    SUPERINTENDENT    OF    POINT    CLEAR    TELE- 
GRAPH   LINE. 

Mobile,  Ala,  December  18,  1862. 

Sir:  Your  letter  of  the  22d  November,  is  received.  The  Point 
Clear  Telegraph  Line  extends  from  Blakcly  to  Point  Clear,  a  distance 
of  twenty-nine  miles.     It  was  put  up  in  1858,  by  a  party  of  gentle- 


42 

men  for  convenience  during  the  sunoraer  months,  when  their  families 
and  friends  resort  to  the  Point  for  sea-bathing  and  recreation.  No 
foreigner  or  other  person  disloyal  to  Alabama  or  the  Confederacy, 
h^is  the  slighest  interest.  The  owners  are,  and  have  been  for  years, 
citizens  of  Alabama.  The  line  was  erected  l;y  subscription,  and  does 
not  boast  of  a  capital  stock.  The  receipts  hardly  pay  for  its  main- 
tenance. 

Very  I'cspectfullv, 

L.   F.  ZANTZINGER, 

Superintendent. 


[No.   6.] 

.  peport  of  norfolk  and  feterheurc;  line. 

Camp  near  Fredericksburg,  V/.,  ^. 
December  26,  18G2.       S 
lion.  John  II.  R  rag  an, 

Postmaster  General,  C.  S.,  Ilichmond,  J^a.  .* 
Sir  :    Your  communication,  dated  November  2-2d,  asking  for  certain 
information  respecting  the  "status"  of  the  "telegraph  line"  owned 
by  the  Norfolk  and  Petersburg  Railroad  Company,  has  just  reached 
me,  and  I  hasten  to  present  the  following  reply: 

'1.  Name. — "Norfolk  and  Petersburg  Telegraph  Line,"  as  part 
and  parcel  of  the  Norfolk  and  Petersburg  Railroad  Company. 

2.  Incorporated, — As  among  the  rights  and  franchises  o1  the  Rail- 
road Company. 

3.  President. — The  undersigned. 

4.  Elided — According  to  the  laws  of  Virginia,  and  by  the 
stockholders  of  the  Railroad  Company. 

5.  Capital. — Is  part  of  the  whole  investment  in  the  railroad, 
which  is  own,  by  much  the  larger  part,  by  the  Commcnwealth  of  Vir- 
ginia ;  balance  by  her  citizens^  with  the  exception  of  only  a  few  shares 
which  may  be  held  by  aliens. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  MAIIONE, 
President  Norfolk  and  Petersburg  Railroad  Company. 


[No.   4.] 
riiE  south- 
Office  OF  THE  South-Western  Telegraph  Compai 


REPORT  OF  the  PRESIDENT  OF    THE  SOUTH-WESTERN  TELEGRAHP  COMPANY. 

ANV,  > 

Jackson,  Miss.,  Dec.  27,  18G2.       S 


Hon.  John  II.  Reagan, 

Postmaster  General.  Richrnond,  Fa.  : 
Sir  :  Y^our  letter  requesting  me  to  furnish  certain   information  in 
regard  to  the  South-western  Telegraph  Company,  in  compliance  with 


43 

a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Confederate 
States,  adopted  at  its  last  session,  Avas  duly  received  and  submitted  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  Compiiny.  From  a  statement  made  by  him,  I 
have  the  honor  to  report,  that  the  South-western  Telegraph  Company 
was  organized  in  June,  1854,  and  is  incorporated.  John  Van  Ilorne 
is  President,  George  S.  Douglass,  Treasurer,  and  Thomas  L.  Carter, 
Secretary.  The  President,  Treasurer  and  Secretary  constitute  the 
Executive  Board  of  the  Company.  Messrs.  Douglass  and  Carter 
vrere  elected  by  the  stockholders,  at  their  annual  meeting,  in  May, 
1861.  The  President  was  appointed  by  the  Board  in  July,  1862,  to 
fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  N.  Green.  The 
capital  stock  of  the  Company  is  six  hundred  thousand  dollars 
($600,01)0).  Citizens  of  the  Confederate  States  hold  about  ($5i)0,000), 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  According  to  our  last  advices  in 
1861,  stock  was  held  by  citizens  of  the  Dibtrict  of  Columbia  amount- 
ing to  about  forty  thousand  dollars  ($40,000),  and  sixty  thousand 
dollars  ($60,000),  held  at  the  commencement  of  the  war  by  a  citizen 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  was  sequestered  in  the  autumn  of  1861. 
The  nett  earnings  of  the  Company  from  April  15,  1861,  to  Novem- 
ber 1,  1862,  amount  to  ninety  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
four  dollars  and  twelve  cents  ($90,324  12).  Of  this  amount  eighteen 
thousand  dollars  ($18,000),  have  been  loaned  to  Southern  stockhold- 
ers to  be  returned  to  the  Treasurer  on  demand.  More  than  half  the 
remainder  is  invested  in  ConfedeKatc  States  bonds  These  bonds  and 
the  balance  of  the  earnings  are  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer 
and  Secretary  of  the  Company,  held  by  them  for  the  purpose  of  repair- 
ing damages  sustained  by  the  property  during  the  war. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  Van  hoene, 

President, 


[A] 

REPORT  OF  PRI'SIDENt's  PRIVATE    SECRETARY     OF  AMOU.  T  PAID    KY  EXECU- 
tive office  for  telegraph  dispatches. 

Executive  Department,      > 
Richmond,  Va.,  Nov.  22,  18G2.  ] 

Hon.  J.  II.  Reagvn,  Postmaster  General  : 

Sir  :  In  response  to  3^our  communication  of  this  date,  to  the  Presi- 
dent, in([airing  the  amount  paid  by  tlie  executive  ofhce  since  xVpril 
15,  18G!,  for  tolls  on  telegraphic  dispatches,  I  beg  leave  to  state  : 

That  I  have  disbursed  the  fund  for  this  purpose  in  payment  of 
telegrams  sent  from  this  office  since  January  1st,  1SG2.  That  for 
this  time  I  have  paid  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-three  dollars  and 
twenty-seven  cents,  being  an  average  per  month  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty-six  dollars  and  sixty-three  ceiits.  That  I  have  no  information 
of  the  sums  disbursed  by  my  predecessor  in  office,  but  that,  at  this 
rate,  the  amount  expended  for  this  purpose  previous  to  the  1st 
Janauary,  1862,  may  be  set  dowi).  at  fifteen  hundred  and  eighty-three 
dollars  and  eighty-one  cents — making  the  aggregate  amount  paid  for 
tolls  on  telegraphic  dispatches  by  this-- office,  from  April  lo,  18GI,  to 
November  1,  1862,  three  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-seven  dol- 
lars and  eight  cents. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

BURTON  N.  HARRISON, 

Private  Stcreiary, 


IB] 
report  of  secretary  of  state. 

Department  of  State,      > 
Richmond,  November  24,  1862.  5 

Hon.  John  H.  Reagan,  Postmaster  General: 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  22d  inst.,  and  in  reply,  to  inform  you  that  since  the  15th  of 
April,  1861,  this  department  has  expended  for  telegraphic  dispatches, 
sent  and  received  by  it,  the  sum  of  one  thousand  two  hundreJ  and 
ninety-seven   dollars  and  one  cent  ($1,297  01).     A  further  sum  of 


45 

nineteen  dollars  and  twenty-seven  cents  is  due  the  company  for  dis^ 
patches  sent  and  received  between  the  1st  and  22d  of  this  month, 

I  am,  sir,  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  P.  BENJAMIN, 

Secretary  of  State, 


[C] 


REPORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY    OF    THE  TREASURY. 

»  Treasury  Department,  C.  S.  A.,   ) 

Richmond,  Dec.  2d,  1862.  V 

Hon.  J.  H.  Reagan,  Postmaster  General: 

Sir:  Your  letter  of  the  22d  inst.,  in  relation  to  the  amount  paid^ 
for  telegraphic  messages  by  this  department,  was  referred  to  th^  First; 
Auditor,  a  copy  of  whose  report  thereon  I  enclose  herewith. 

Respectfully, 

C.  G.  MEMMINGER; 

Secretary  of  Treasury.. 


Treasury  Department,  ^ 

First  Auditor's  Office,  > 

Richmond,  Nov.  27th,  1862.  ) 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  reference  to  this  office- 
for  report  of  letter  of  the  honorable  Postmaster  General  addressed  to 
you,  submitting  an  extract  from  a  resolution  adopted  by  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Confederate  States,  calling  for  the  amount 
paid  by  the  different  departments  of  the  government  since  April  15^. 
1861,  for  tolls  on  telegraphic  dispatches,  and  to  state  that  upon  ex- 
amination of  the  accounts  of  the  disbursing  clerks  of  the  treasury 
department  which  have  been  received  up  to  September  30,  1862, 1  find 
the  amount  paid  tolls  on  telegraphic  dispatches  up  to  and  including 
5 


46 

July,  1862,  13  three   thousand   nine  hundred  and   fifty-nine  71-100 
dollars.     I  herewith  return  the  letter  of  the  Postmaster  General. 

With  great  respect. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  W.  ROBERTSON, 

Acting  Auditor, 

lion,  C.  G.  Memminger, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


REPORT  OF  SECRETARY    OF  WAR. 

m 

War  Department,  / 

Richmond,  Va.,  Dee.  2d,  1862.  S 

Hon.  J.  II.  Reagan,  Postmaster  General, 

Richmond,  Va. : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  22d  ultimo,  embracing  an  extract  from  a  resolution  of  inquiry 
adapted  by  the  House  of  Representatives  at  its  last  session,  of  which 
the  following  is  a  copy,  viz.  : 

"  The  amount  expended  by  the  Government  in  the  construction  and 
repairs  of  telegraphic  lines,  and  of  salaries  of  agents  and  operxitors, 
and  the  revenue  derived  therefrom,  and  the  amounts  paid  by  the  dif- 
ferent departments  of  the  Government  since  April  ]b,  1861,  for  tolls 
on  telegraphic  dispatches." 

If  it  be  the  sense  of  Congress  to  ascertain,  by  the  foregoing  resolu- 
tion, not  only  the  aggregate  amouiit  disbursed  by  this  department 
since  the  15th  of  April,  1861,  for  tolls  on  telegraphic  dispatches,  but 
also  the  amounts  similarly  paid  by  the -disbursing  officers  of  the  army, 
who  are  dispersed  over  a  w^ide  area  of  country,  and  who  have  been 
engaged  in  active  field  service,  I  have  to  reply  that  any  accurate 
gtatement  of  the  latter  sums  [is]  impracticable  at  present.  The 
accounts  of  many  of  those  officers  for  the  last  quarter  in  1861  have 
not  yet  reached  the  proper  b  reau  for  examination,  and  an  insupera- 
ble difficulty  thus  meets  the  department  in  affording  you  even  a  relia- 
ble approximation  of  the  amounts  thus  paid. 

The  aggregate  amount,  however,  disbursed  by  this  office,  including 
the  various  bureaux,  comprising  this  department  proper,  for  tolls  on 
telegraphic  dispatches  from  the    15th  of  April,   1861,  to  the   30th 


47 

November,  1862,  inclusive,  is  thirty-five  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
ninety-nine  dollars  and  thirty  cents.     ($35,799  30.) 
I  am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War, 


[E] 

report  of  secretary  op  the  navy. 

Navy  Department, 
Richmond,  December  17,  1862 


.! 


Hon.  John  H.  Reagan.  Postmaster  General, 

Richmond,  Va.  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  22d  ultimo,  calling  my  attention  to  a  resolution  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  requesting  a  response  on  the  port  of  this  depart- 
ment, and  to  state  in  reply  that  the  amount  paid  for  "  tolls  on  tele- 
graphic dispatches"  by  this  department  from  the  15th  day  of  April, 
1861,  to  the  30th  day  of  November,  1862,  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained, 
is  ($10,258  64)  ten  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty-eight  64-100 
dollars. 

There  may  be  some  small  amounts  which  were  paid  by  officers  and 
others,  and  which  cannot  now  bo  ascertained,  as  they  are  embraced  in 
other  accounts.     The  amount,  however,  is  small. 
I  am,  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

,S.  R.  MALLORY, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


[F] 

feport  of  the  postoffice  department. 

PosTOFFicE  Department,  > 

Richmond,  Ya.,  November  22,  1862.  \ 

Hon.  J.  H.  Reagan,  Postmaster  General: 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  the  amount   expended  by 
this  department  "  for  tolls  on  telegraphic  dispatches"  since  the  15th 


48 


April,  1861,  to  the  present  time  is  five  hundred  fifteen  dollars  an(|,^^. 
twenty. six  cents.     ($515  26.) 

Very  respectfully, 

JOSEPH  F.  LEWIS, 

Disbursing  Clerk. 


report  of  attorney  general. 

Department  of  Justice,  > 

Richmond,  22d  November,  1862.  ) 

Hon.  John  H.  Reagan,  Postmaster  General : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
this  date,  and  to  say  in  reply  that  the  amount  expended  by  the  depart- 
ment "for  tolls  on  telegraphic  dispatches"  since  the  15th  April,  1861, 
to  the  present  time  is  three  hundred  and  ninety-five  73-100  dollars, 
($395  73,)  and  of  this  amount  the  sum  of  eight  dollars  ($8)  was  due 
and  paid  by  the  patent  office. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

T.  H.  WATTS, 

Attorney  General, 


49 


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